Friday 5: NASCAR’s youth movement carries over to Hall of Fame

NASCAR’s youth movement is spilling over into its Hall of Fame selections. 

While the Cup Series has seen 15 of its last 17 races won by drivers 30 and under, the Hall of Fame also is experiencing a youth movement — even with 94-year-old Hershel McGriff’s selection Wednesday from the Pioneer Era.

Matt Kenseth’s selection to the Hall of Fame from the Modern Era at age 50 marks the fourth consecutive class a driver 50 or under had been picked for enshrinement. 

It started when Jeff Gordon was tabbed for the Class of 2019 at age 46. Tony Stewart was 48 when he was voted to the Class of 2020. Dale Earnhardt Jr. became the youngest member at age 45 when he was selected for the Class of 2021.

The streak will continue next year. Drivers who have competed at least 10 years in NASCAR and been retired for two years are eligible for nomination. That makes Jimmie Johnson, who turns 47 in September, eligible for the Class of 2024. The seven-time Cup champion will be a shoo-in. 

While Kenseth will be among the youngest to be in the Hall, he says it doesn’t feel odd for it to happen at this time.

“I would say if it wouldn’t have been going back and racing in 2020 again, it would feel a little bit weird,” Kenseth said. “I think going back and running the rest of the schedule that year, not performing well … I felt like once that year was over, I definitely knew my professional driving career was behind me. I can’t say the same thing when we ended 2017 at Gibbs or even when I ended 2018 running for Roush.

“I still got through ’19 and there was still, you kind of had that feeling … still in my head the thought I could go be an asset for a race team and still win races and still try to contend for championships and still be competitive. It