Dale Jarrett knows who he'd like to see inducted into NASCAR HOF next

Dale Jarrett. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Dale Jarrett knows who he'd like to see inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame next

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Jan 24, 2026 1:07 PM ET

Following the inductions of Kurt Busch, Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday, three more individuals — two from the Modern Era ballot and one from the Pioneer Ballot — will be enshrined in 2027.

Cup Series champion and three-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett knows who he'd like to see be inducted next.

"I've been talking to NASCAR people, to (HOF executive director) Winston Kelley, that there's a name that needs to go on the ballot," Jarrett told reporter Claire B. Lang on Friday. "He's not even on the ballot yet — I'm going to say two."

"I lobbied hard for Jeff Burton the last two years. I think he needs to be in for everything he's done for the sport ... Jeff Burton was a star and still is to this day."

Interesting and very passionate answer from NASCAR Hall of Famer @DaleJarrett last night when I asked him who next @NASCARHall . I had no idea he had been thinking of that exact topic. Thanks Dale: pic.twitter.com/Udd9Y869jn
— Claire B Lang (@ClaireBLang) January 24, 2026

The other individual Jarrett wants to see inducted? His brother-in-law and former crew chief in Jimmy Makar, who won the 1993 Daytona 500 with Jarrett and Joe Gibbs Racing and also was atop the pit box with Bobby Labonte for his 2000 championship season.

"[He] started and ran Joe Gibbs Racing for over 30 years," Jarrett said of Makar, who retired at the end of 2022. "He made every decision that was there for the longest time ... Jimmy Makar was the first employee there."

The case for Jeff Burton, Jimmy Makar

Makar is a championship-winning crew chief in the Cup Series and a Daytona 500 champion. That alone could make him worthy of at least being on the ballot, but his longevity in the sport also helps his case.

Burton, meanwhile, won 21 Cup Series races and is still active in the sport today as an analyst for NBC's NASCAR coverage.

Only time will tell if Makar and Burton are ever inducted into the Hall of Fame, but having a voice such as Jarrett lobbying for them certainly won't hurt.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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