The NASCAR Hall of Fame voting system has drawn sharp criticism after its latest induction class left out several decorated champions due to strict yearly limits.
Announced Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, the class includes only two Modern Era nominees and one from the Pioneer Era, a structure that has created a backlog of deserving candidates.
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Greg Biffle, a 19-time Cup Series winner, was excluded for the second consecutive year despite being on the ballot.
Biffle, who died in a December plane crash in North Carolina, finished fifth in voting.
Former driver Jeff Burton secured the second Modern Era slot alongside top vote-getter Kevin Harvick.
Pioneer Era driver Larry Phillips and Landmark Award recipient Lesa France Kennedy also made the class.
Burton acknowledged Biffle's credentials, saying, "He definitely, definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame at some point.
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When that is, that's not for me to decide."
The voting outcome has intensified calls for a threshold-based election system similar to Major League Baseball's, which would allow multiple inductees if they meet a certain standard.
The restricted ballot forced voters to choose between candidates with comparable championship resumes. Burton noted the high standard for entry but said timing is beyond competitors' control.
Historical legends like Ray Fox, Harry Hyde, Banjo Matthews, and Herb Nab also remain excluded, highlighting the backlog created by rules established in 2010 to preserve exclusivity.
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The NASCAR Hall of Fame's small pool of potential nominees compared to other leagues has made the limits particularly contentious.
