Dale Jarrett knows Joe Gibbs Racing better than anyone, and this time he’s not kidding. As NASCAR celebrated the 2026 Hall of Fame inductees, the Hall of Famer focused on a particular legacy that he said has been overlooked for far too long. With Kurt Busch, Harry Grant and Ray Hendrick officially welcomed into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday, attention is already turning to who could be next.
Three more figures, two from the Modern Era ballot and one from the Pioneer category, are set to be inducted in 2027, and Dale Jarrett is pushing hard to ensure another JGR stalwart deserves to be front and center.
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“But the one I want on the ballot is not because he’s my brother-in-law, but because Jimmy Makar started and ran Joe Gibbs Racing for over 30 years,” he said. “Jimmy Makar was the first employee there, he still goes to the meetings today, even though he’s retired, when he’s not fishing he attends the meetings. But Jimmy Makar deserves to be there.
The Cup Series champion and three-time Daytona 500 winner didn’t hesitate to bring up the name Jimmy Makar when asked about future Hall of Fame candidates. This candidate deserves recognition much closer to home for the 69-year-old driver. Jimmy Makar, Jarrett‘s brother-in-law and former crew chief, played a founding role in one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations.
Makar took the boldest step of leaving Penske in 1991 to help build Joe Gibbs Racing from A to Z, one of the oldest and longest-serving members of the organization, and served as crew chief for Dale Jarrett from 1992 to 1994, guiding the team to its first victory at the 1993 Daytona 500.
And later, he helped Bobby LeBonte win the 2000 Cup Series championship. But according to Jarrett, Makar’s impact extends far beyond racing strategy.
From there, Makar moved into a leadership role as Senior Vice President of Racing Operations at JGR in 2002 and quickly became a key figure in the team’s overall competitiveness, contributing to victories and championships across the world. Best NASCAR Series as the team continued to grow.
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During his career as crew chief, Makar’s teams accumulated 22 Cup Series victories with three different drivers.
A Daytona 500A winning, championship-caliber team leader with decades of leadership at the highest level, Makar retired at the end of the 2022 season. His resume alone, compared to his longevity, makes a compelling case for the Hall of Fame.
Plus, NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace couldn’t agree more.
“Dale Jarrett just said something that I totally agree with,” he said. “He said. We’re going to have to start putting people in the Hall of Fame. And we’ve done more than win. And they’re not superstars. Dale Jarrett said I want to see Jimmy Makar. Jimmy Makar was on his brother Rusty’s team, the Blue Max team, the number 27 Kodiak car. Jimmy Mark Makar was a great crew chief, but he started Joe Gibbs Racing.”
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Whether Makar will ultimately earn a place among NASCAR legends remains to be seen. But with respected voices like Dale Jarrett and Kenny Wallace defending Makar, the 69-year-old’s name has become part of the conversation.
However, with prospects in place, Jarrett couldn’t help but cite other pioneers of the sport, one of whom long awaited for his induction this year.
Harry Gant gets a nod from Jarrett
Harry Gant turned 86 two weeks ago and was honored Friday night at the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony, celebrating a stock car career that ended nearly three decades ago. Still, his appearance suggested he could get back into a race car without missing a beat.
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“I tell people the first time I saw him was around 1970,” Dale Jarrett said. “When I saw him (Thursday) night, I hadn’t seen him in a few years, but I was just amazed at how he still looked the same… He looked like he could step in and leave.”
The Hall crowd once again marveled at handsome Harry, who joined Kurt Busch and Ray Hendrick as members of the Class of 2026.
January 22, 2026, Charlotte, NC, USA: HARRY GANT, NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series driver, receives his exclusive blue jacket as he is inducted into the prestigious NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC. A jacket like no other for heirlooms like no other. Handcrafted with precision, the blue NASCAR Hall of Fame jacket represents a permanent place among the greats. Charlotte United States – ZUMAa161 20260122_aaa_a161_004 Copyright: xWalterxG.xArcexSr.x
Gant’s induction came in the seventh year of eligibility, fitting for a driver whose career has followed an unconventional timeline. A short track specialist, Gant didn’t reach the Cup Series until he was 39, an age when many drivers are already thinking about retirement.
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His rise was an unlikely mix of working-class roots and Hollywood polish. Discovered by Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham, Gant became the face of #33. With a movie star smile and a reputation for tough but fair racing, his rise to NASCAR stardom was finally underway.
Plus, he was a rare driver whose best moments came later in life. Some of the most iconic victories among his 18 Cup Series victories came after he turned 50, including a remarkable four-game winning streak in 1991 that earned the 51-year-old the nickname Mr. September.
He followed that run with the eventual victory at Michigan International Speedway in 1992, becoming the oldest winner in series history, a record that still stands.
And although the HoF’s induction took a while, the NASCAR community is happy that Gant’s accomplishments have been officially recognized.
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The position Unsung JGR hero gets fierce Hall of Fame push as NASCAR veterans break silence on overlooked legacy appeared first on EssentiallySport.
