The nominations for the 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame are already causing mayhem throughout the community. Veterans, former drivers, and NASCAR stars are heavily divided on their opinions about the viability of the current NASCAR HoF procedures. While some are questioning the nominations, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to remind them what truly defines a Hall of Fame legend.

Dale Jr. recounts the forgotten story of NASCAR’s past

While talking about his favorites for the 2027 NASCAR Hall of Fame, Dale Jr. takes a jab at those opposing the inclusion of so many names. His words are a clear indication of the fact that he doesn’t want NASCAR to step down due to recent criticism.

“Everybody on this list, in my opinion, is a Hall of Famer. They are. I am going to pick Kevin Harvick and Ray Elder. But I struggle not to pick Jeff Burton. I mean I think Jeff Burton belongs in there.”

After that, Dale Jr. starts to explain the important legacy of Ray Elder in the sport. He recounts how NASCAR did not have a lot of appeal nationally in the old era. The likes of Elder and his fellow nominees were the reason why the sport stands where it is today. Thus, it is impossible not to include them in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Not only that, Dale Jr. also mentions it is a serious concern that Elder is still not a part of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“I just feel like Ray Elder should’ve been in here six years ago because he is a six-time champion in what was the Cup Series. Think about this, okay? In the 1970s, NASCAR in general was a very southeastern-limited sport. Didn’t get a lot of credibility, didn’t get a lot of respect, didn’t get a lot of attention from the nation as a whole outside of the south-east…

“Ray Elder was the guy out there digging the ditch, and so when we came out there to finally push west and make this a more national sport, it was successful on the work that Ray Elder and others had done. You know I love the phrase, ‘standing on the shoulders of the giants.’ Ray Elder is one of the guys. We are standing on his shoulders.”

It is a hot take on an ongoing debate. The likes of Denny Hamlin and others are constantly nagging NASCAR that they can’t just include anyone in the Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, Dale Jr. is trying to emphasize the legacy of the individual rather than comparing it with the legacy of earlier Hall of Famers.

For now, Biffle and Harvick seem like the favorites for winning the vote for the induction. However, Dale Jr. has raised an interesting point about Ray Elder instead. Based on the work he did and his achievements in the NASCAR West series, it’s possible that he might end up winning the nomination instead.

What about the current NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees’ opinion? Let’s have a look at what Kevin Harvick has to say about the same.

Kevin Harvick gets emotional recalling NASCAR career

Kevin Harvick was moved after learning about his nomination for the NASCAR Hall of Fame for 2027. “I would say that one brought a tear to my eye.”

With 60 wins to his name and one Cup Series championship, there’s no doubt about the fact that Harvick is one of the best drivers of the series. So it is no wonder that he was unable to stop himself from recalling his work with NASCAR for the past decades.

“You put so much effort into everything that you do with your craft. You want to be the best at it. To be able to have the success… It was my job for 23 years. Now, I sit here on this side of the camera being able to talk about the sport that I love. You put your whole life into something, and to be able to reap the rewards of all the effort that you put into it is pretty special.”

Interestingly, Harvick was among the first people who started the debate about the NASCAR Hall of Fame. After his nomination, he has yet to respond to the opinions from the other drivers. Although Kevin Harvick was of the opinion that some drivers may not end up finding themselves in the Hall of Fame, owing to their careers in the lower series, and not the Cup Series.