Kyle Petty's reaction to 2027 NASCAR Hall of Fame class is spot on

On Tuesday, three former drivers were chosen to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January 2027 and are set to take their place among the sport's greats.

Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton were the two selected from those who were eligible on the modern-era ballot. Larry Phillips, meanwhile, was nominated from the five on the pioneer-era ballot.

While you can always make the case that someone was left out and was more than deserving of being on the list, former driver and current analyst Kyle Petty believes this is a solid group of nominees.

Kyle Petty applauds 2027 Hall of Fame class

"Not a surprise, not a surprise, because I told you in the room, so much passion for all these guys," Petty said, per NASCAR.com. "There were guys that stood up and spoke passionately for Larry Phillips, all he had done as a NASCAR Weekly Racing Series champion and all the races he had won. 

"Jeff Burton, so much support for what he's done on the race track, but for what he did off the race track and what he's done with the Driver Council. And I think Kevin Harvick goes without saying. Daytona 500 champion, 60-race winner, that is rare air in this sport. Forever, he was the 10th all-time leading winner in this sport until some guy named Denny Hamlin came along and knocked him out of it. But I'm just saying, when you look at that, these guys collectively, it's a great group."

For starters, it was a no-brainer for Harvick to go in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer as soon as it was revealed that he was eligible.

The Bakersfield, California, native was thrown into the deep end when he was put into a rebranded No. 29 Chevrolet following the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. Multiple decades later, when he retired from full-time competition at the conclusion of the 2023 season, Harvick amassed 60 Cup Series wins and 47 O'Reilly Series wins, in addition to winning a pair of O'Reilly titles (2001, 2006) and the 2014 Cup Series championship in his first season with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Now an analyst for Fox Sports, Harvick had a legendary career on the track and continues to be a major part of the sport with his "Happy Hour" podcast.

Known as "The Mayor" for his insight on issues and safety in the sport, Burton was a 21-time winner at the Cup Series level. His most notable victories came in the Southern 500 and Coca-Cola 600, in addition to tacking on 27 O'Reilly Series wins.

Burton currently serves as an analyst for NBC Sports and is more than deserving of the Hall of Fame nomination due to his efforts, both on and off the track.

Phillips may not be as well known among the casual fans, but he was named one of the sport's 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023 and inducted into the Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2001. When you throw in the five Weekly Series titles and his versatility across multiple disciplines, the late Phillips is beyond due for his nomination.

Lesa France Kennedy was named the Landmark Award winner for her outstanding contributions to the sport over the years, making the entire 2027 class more than deserving all around.

While Greg Biffle's exclusion was among the surprising omissions from Tuesday's announcement, it is hard to dispute the 2027 class that will take its rightful place in the Hall of Fame on Jan. 22, 2027.