CONCORD, N.C. – Engine builder Randy Dorton has been named one of 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Dorton's launch of the engine program, his approachable leadership style and astute management had a tremendous impact on Hendrick Motorsports – both in the organization's rise to prominence as the team to beat in the Cup Series ranks and its innovation.
RELATED: Randy Dorton's legacy stands tall at Hendrick Motorsports
Dorton served as the organization's director of engine operations until his passing on Oct. 24, 2004, in a plane accident. Upon acquiring Dorton's company, Competition Engines, in 1984, team owner Rick Hendrick invited Dorton to join the organization. Two years later, the North Carolina native was named NASCAR's Engine Builder of the Year and he helped guide the organization to nine championships across NASCAR's national series. Dorton was also involved in research and development for the race team and General Motors. Thirty-eight of the 103 teammates who were part of the engine program with Dorton are still at Hendrick Motorsports.
"Randy directed the engine shop, but he did more than just the engines," Hendrick said. "He was involved in building the organization."
In September of 2023, the Hendrick Motorsports engine department earned its 500th national series win with Kyle Larson's NASCAR Cup Series playoff win at Darlington Raceway. To date, the organization has 513 wins in NASCAR's national series. The Concord, North Carolina, based engine shop is responsible for 21 national series championships (16 in the Cup Series, four in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and one in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series). Hendrick Motorsports' Cup operation has the most wins of any Cup Series team in the sport's history with 306 victories.
RELATED: Notable wins for Hendrick Motorsports engines
Dorton's legacy includes the sustained excellence of the Hendrick Motorsports engine department and how that excellence is achieved. The annual Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown is one way his impact continues to be celebrated.
"He had the vision to build a strong foundation that would be long lasting," Scott Maxim, Hendrick Motorsports director of powertrain, said. "His biggest impact is on other people. Those people are now helping drive our company. He gave everyone a template on how to do it."
Three others with ties to Hendrick Motorsports – Harry Hyde, Ricky Rudd and Jack Sprague – are on the ballot for the Class of 2025. Sprague joins Dorton on the ballot for the first time. A three-time Truck Series champion for Hendrick Motorsports, Sprague drove for team owner Rick Hendrick in the truck ranks from 1995 to 2001 and also drove in the Xfinity Series for the team in 2002. While at Hendrick Motorsports, Sprague won 23 Truck Series races for the organization and one Xfinity race. He is one of five multi-time Truck Series champions in series history.
Hyde worked as a crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports for five years (1984 to 1988). During that time, he worked with drivers Geoff Bodine, Tim Richmond, Benny Parsons and Ken Schrader. Nearly one-fifth of his wins as a crew chief – 11 of 56 – came with the organization. Hyde earned the first win in team history with Bodine at Martinsville Speedway in 1984 and helped guide Richmond to a seven-win campaign in 1986. Rudd drove the No. 5 Chevrolet for the team for four seasons (1990-1993). Rudd earned four of his 23 wins with the organization.
Dorton, Hyde, Rudd and Sprague are all on the Modern Era ballot. Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards and Harry Gant are joining them on the Modern Era ballot. The Pioneer Ballot, which honors those whose careers began more than 60 years ago, consists of Ray Hendrick, Banjo Matthews, Ralph Moody, Larry Phillips and Bob Welborn. Two of the 10 nominees from the Modern Era ballot will be selected, while one of the five from the Pioneer Ballot will be chosen. Those three individuals make up the Class of 2025.
The Landmark Award, which honors those who have made significant contributions to the growth and esteem of NASCAR, consists of five nominees: Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Dr. Dean Sicking and Les Richter. One of those individuals will be selected as the recipient.
The 2024 Hall of Fame class featured former Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus, now the team's vice president of competition. Together, Johnson and Knaus won a record-tying seven Cup Series championships, including a historic five in a row from 2006 to 2010.
PHOTOS: Scenes from the 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction weekend
NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel will meet in person to discuss and vote for the Class of 2025 and the Landmark Award on Tuesday, May 21. The panel of voters consists of members of the nomination committee, former drivers, former owners, former crew chiefs, manufacturer representatives, media members, the current Cup Series champion and representatives from the honors committee. The NASCAR.com Fan Vote will comprise the final ballot tallied. The Fan Vote is open and will run through Sunday, May 19, at noon ET.
