Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth final race marks beginning of Hall of Fame wait

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth will likely make their final career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Kenseth drove in multiple races at the Cup Series level beginning in 1999, the same year as Earnhardt and 18 seasons later, their countdown to Hall of Fame enshrinement will soon begin.

The main criteria for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame includes accomplishments and contributions to the sport. As a soon to be 15-time Most Popular Driver, Earnhardt has changed the sport outside of the track like no other. He’s the biggest draw at every track and has increased NASCAR’s fan base with his genuine interviews, social media use and stories about his iconic father.