1976: Neil Bonnett ran the first four races of the NASCAR Cup season in his own Chevrolet with sponsorship from Armor All. Bonnett surprised many with a nice fifth place finish in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

BACK TO GALLERIES

New 2020 Hall of Fame nominees and Landmark Award nominees

By Staff Report | Published: May 22, 2019 25

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

BACK TO GALLERIES

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12 Mar 1999: Tony Stewart #20 looks on the track during the Cracker Barrel 500, part of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Mandatory Credit: Jon Ferrey /Allsport

Jon Ferrey | Allsport

Hall of Fame nominee: Tony Stewart

Nicknamed "Smoke," Stewart earned three championships as a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver -- and 12 titles across all racing platforms -- in his storied career. He is the only driver to have won titles in both the Monster Energy Series and IndyCar.

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COLUMBUS, IN - MAY 20: Tony Stewart is scene here in his garage on his winning kart with 15 winning trophies. Stewart soon moved on and raced three-quarter midgets. (Photo by Racing Photo Archives/Getty Images)

Racing Photo Archives | Getty Images

A native of Columbus, Indiana, Stewart began racing go-karts at a young age. He moved into NASCAR's premier series in 1999, earning three wins his first season.

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INDIANAPOLIS - AUGUST 7: Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet, kisses the bricks after winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Allstate 400 on August 7, 2005 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images

Tony Stewart kissed the bricks at fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time in 2005 ...

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INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 29: Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series 14th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 29, 2007 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

... and he won the race again in 2007.

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 16: (Front: L-R) Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota, crew chief Greg Zipadelli, team owners JD Gibbs and Joe Gibbs pose with the entire crew on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 16, 2008 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

John Harrelson | Getty Images

Tony Stewart drove the No. 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing for the first decade of his career. Here, the group poses for a photo before his final race with the team.

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KANNAPOLIS, NC - SEPTEMBER 30: (L-R)Gene Haas, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, Clint Bowyer, newest driver for Stewart-Haas Racing, and Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet and co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, pose for a photo opportunity after a press conference announcing the retirement of Stewart on September 30, 2015 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Stewart has decided his 18th year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be his last. The three-time series champion will retire following the 2016 season, whereupon Clint Bowyer will take the wheel of the No. 14 machine beginning in 2017. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Stewart-Haas Racing via Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Stewart left Joe Gibbs Racing to join Gene Haas as co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. He helped bring many talented drivers to the team over time, including Clint Bowyer.

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 20: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 and the 2011 Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2011 in Homestead, Florida. Stewart wins his third NASCAR Championship. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

Stewart delivered SHR's first championship in 2011, when he won five playoff races en route to the title.

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, poses with the Championship trophy after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 and the 2011 Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2011 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Stewart poses with the trophy, his third as a driver, in 2011.

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SONOMA, CA - JUNE 26: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Code 3 Assoc/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 26, 2016 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Tony Stewart's final win came at winding Sonoma in 2016. In typical Stewart fashion, he moved Denny Hamlin out of the way on the final lap for the win.

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 20: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Always a Racer/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, waves to the fans prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2016 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Image

Stewart retired from full-time racing in the Monster Energy Series at the end of the 2016 season. He remains in NASCAR as a co-owner for Stewart-Haas Racing, which won the 2014 championship with Kevin Harvick.

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Always a Racer/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2016 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

This marks Stewart's first year of eligibility for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and has an opportunity to become the second straight first-ballot Hall of Famer (Jeff Gordon did so last season).

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Unknown: Sam Ard of Asheboro, NC, won the 1983 NASCAR Busch Late Model Sportsman Series championship. The following year, he repeated as champion when it was renamed the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Hall of Fame nominee: Sam Ard

Ard won two now-Xfinity Series championships (1983, '84) and also boasted an impressive resume in the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series.

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MARTINSVILLE, VA — October 29, 1978: Geoff Bodine (L) and Sam Ard (R) celebrate in victory lane at Martinsville Speedway following the Cardinal 500 Classic. Bodine took the win in the NASCAR Modified Tour segment while Ard took the checkered first in the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman half. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

Ard (pictured right with Geoff Bodine, left) earned a record-setting 10 wins in 1983 and is one of two drivers in series history to do so in single season (the other being Kyle Busch). He passed away on April 2, 2017 at the age of 78.

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Hall of Fame nominee: Neil Bonnett

An original member of the storied "Alabama Gang," Bonnett recorded 18 victories in his Monster Energy Series career. He kickstarted his career by working on Bobby Allison's cars, earning opportunities to drive for Harry Hyde and the Wood Brothers.

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MARTINSVILLE, VA: Good friends Dale Earnhardt and Neil Bonnett before a NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

Bonnett (pictured right with friend Dale Earnhardt) only completed five full-time seasons at the Cup level in a 20-year span, but recorded several high-profile wins -- including back-to-back Coca-Cola 600 victories in 1982-83.

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Mid 1980s: As teammate to Darrell Waltrip on Junior Johnson’s Budweiser-sponsored race team, Neil Bonnett won three NASCAR Cup races between 1984 and 1986 and scored 44 top ten finishes. He also won the 1984 Busch Clash All-Star race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

Bonnett passed away on Feb. 11, 1994, after an accident at Daytona International Speedway.

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UNKNOWN — 1966: Marvin Panch ran his final season on the NASCAR Cup circuit during the year before retiring as a driver. He started the year with the Wood Brothers team that he had been with since 1962. But Ford withdrew factory support after the Atlanta 500 in late March in a rules dispute with NASCAR, leaving the Wood Brothers, and Panch, on the sidelines. Panch returned for the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 22nd and won the final Cup race of his career driving a Plymouth for Petty Enterprises. He finished out his last year of Cup racing with several more starts for Petty and also for Tom Freidkin. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

Hall of Fame nominee: Marvin Panch

Panch notched 17 wins in his career, driving for the Wood Brothers from 1962 to early 1966 and earning eight victories in that span with 69 starts.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - 1965: Marvin Panch won the pole position for the 1965 Firecracker 400 at Daytona in the Wood Bros. Ford. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Archives via Getty Images

Panch earned his first victory at Montgomery Speedway in 1956, rattling off six more the year following. In 1961, he was given the opportunity to pilot the No. 20 for Smokey Yunick in the Daytona 500 -- and won after leading 13 laps. Named to NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers list, Panch passed away on Dec. 31, 2015, at the age of 89.

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Hall of Fame nominee: Red Vogt

A pivotal figure in NASCAR's early history, Vogt has been called NASCAR's first master mechanic and one of its organizing members. Several NASCAR stars drove a car prepared by Vogt, including Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner and NASCAR founder Bill France.

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1949: Car owner Raymond Parks (L), mechanic Red Vogt (C), and driver Red Byron (R) with their modified stock car. They won the very first NASCAR Modified national championship in 1948, then the very first NASCAR Strictly Stock (Cup division) championship in Õ49. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

Vogt (center and pictured with car owner Raymond Parks, left, and driver Red Byron, right) teamed up with Hall of Famer Parks after his success in the 1940s. Together, Vogt, Parks and Byron won the first Cup championship in 1949.

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1964: Driver Jim Paschal shows his unique way to cool off during a NASCAR Cup race. Paschal won the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the year driving for Petty Enterprises. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

Hall of Fame nominee: Jim Paschal

Paschal competed in the very first now-Cup Series race in 1949, earning 25 wins until the end of his career in 1972. A successful force in racing, Paschal finished in the top 10 in more than 50 percent of his races and held the laps-led record (335) for a single race until Martin Truex Jr. passed him in the 2016 Coca-Cola 600 with 392 laps led.

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UNKNOWN — 1950s: Jim Paschal of High Point, NC, ran on the NASCAR Cup circuit from 1949 through 1972. He started 421 races, won 25 times and finished 230 races, well over half of his starts, in the top 10. Paschal finished in the top 10 in Cup points nine times. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

A short-track ace, Paschal won all but two of his 25 victories on short tracks. The winningest run of his career came in 1969 -- 72, when he won 16 of the 73 races. He passed away on July 5, 2004.

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CONCORD, NC - JANUARY 27: Edsel Ford II speaks to the media during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, held at the Roush-Fenway hanger of Concord Regional Airport, on January 27, 2011 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Jason Smith | Getty Images for NASCAR

Landmark Award nominee: Edsel Ford II

The namesake of his great-grandfather Henry Ford's company and an iconic name in the garage, Ford II was a member of the Ford Motor Company Board of Directors and executive for the company for many years. In his Ford tenure, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Speedway Corporation.

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LONG POND, PA - JUNE 07: NASCAR president Mike Helton walks through the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 7, 2014 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jerry Markland | Getty Images

Landmark Award nominee: Mike Helton

With nearly a five-decade long career in racing, Helton became the first non-member of the France family to be named NASCAR President in 2000. In his presidential tenure, Helton solidified NASCAR's worldwide presence and pushed for increased safety standards, his efforts still seen in place today. He remains on the NASCAR Board of Directors for the league, as well as the NASCAR Foundation.

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LONG POND, PA - JULY 30: The founder of Pocono Raceway Joseph Mattioli talks to the media about the solar farm constructed in a former parking at Pocono Raceway on July 30, 2010 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The solar farm will generate enough electricity to power the NASCAR facility. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Drew Hallowell | Getty Images for NASCAR

Landmark Award nominee: Dr. Joseph Mattioli

A dentist and World War II veteran, "Doc" founded Pocono Raceway with wife Rose in 1968 after they were approached with the idea. Pocono Raceway now hosts races in all three NASCAR series, including two Cup races each season.