On August 2 the NASCAR Hall of Fame revealed the three members who would be joining the Hall next year. While none of the selections were unanimous choices, there were no surprises as to who at least two of the choices would be for the modern era selections. And for the first time in the history of the Hall of Fame all of the selections were first time ballots.
The Landmark Award is presented to a person who has made an Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The 2024 recipient goes to the woman who was the first female driver to run in both the Daytona and Indianapolis 500 races – Janet Guthrie. Now 85: Guthrie was an aerospace engineer before turning her talents to wheeling race cars around the track. The firesuit and helmet she in her first race are now a part of the exhibits at the Smithsonian Institute. She is a member of the International Women’s Sports and the International Motorsports Halls of Fame.
In the Pioneer Era, Donnie Allison joins brother Bobby and nephew Davey in the Hall of Fame. Now 83, he will forever be known as a member of the “Alabama Gang” and a fight he had with Cale Yarborough in 1979 after the first fully televised Daytona 500.
In the Modern Era a first time ballot driver and crew chief will forever be immortalized in the Hall of Fame after spending nearly all of their racing careers together. Completing the list of seven time Cup Series champions is Jimmie Johnson; along with his crew chief Chad Knaus.
Johnson earned all but two of his 83 wins and all seven championships – including five in a row – with Knaus sitting on the pit box.
Chad Knaus has moved up in the Hendricks Motorsports organization as a member of the administration. Johnson retired from NASCAR to go IndyCar racing but has since returned to NASCAR as a once in a while driver and part owner of the Legacy Motor Club which included fellow seven time champion Richard Petty in the ownership.