Kyle Busch celebrates his win in the 2009 O’Reilly Challenge NASCAR Nationwide Series race. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Last November, Busch nearly became the first driver in NASCAR history to win three national series events on the same weekend. He captured his first career Camping World Truck Series victory at TMS in the WinStar World Casino 350k and followed with a victory in the O’Reilly Challenge Nationwide Series race the following day. Busch came up two laps short in his bid for history as he ran out of fuel on Lap 332 of the 334-lap Dickies 500 Sprint Cup race, relinquishing the lead to older brother Kurt, who went on to victory.

Yates, veteran team-owner of Robert Yates Racing and an accomplished NASCAR engine-builder, will be recognized as this year’s Bruton Smith Legends Award recipient. Yates established a dominant organization from 1989 to 2009. During that span, Yates earned 57 career Cup victories, including a pair at TMS (2001, ’04). In 1999, Dale Jarrett led Yates to his lone Cup championship. Along with Jarrett, Yates’ stable of drivers included Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Ricky Rudd and Elliott Sadler.

Ambrose and Gordon will both receive the Texas Motor Speedway Sportsmanship Award. Ambrose, in his second full season with JTG-Daugherty Racing, has continued to excel on the track. He finished 18th in Cup points last year and earned a career-best second-place finish on the road-course at Watkins Glen International. Since making the jump from V8 Supercars in Australia to stock cars in 2006, Ambrose has climbed the NASCAR ranks, starting in the Camping World Truck Series and moving up to the Nationwide Series before his rookie season in Cup in 2008. During that time, he scored two Nationwide victories.

Gordon has established himself as one of the all-time greats in NASCAR, winning Cup championships in 1995, ’97, ’98, 2001, all with Hendrick Motorsports. His 82 career victories rank him sixth on the all-time list.

Gordon bagged his first career victory at TMS in his 17th appearance, winning the Samsung 500 last spring. His on-track success is matched by what he has accomplished off it. Gordon has exemplified the ideals of sportsmanship through development of the Jeff Gordon Foundation. He continues to make a difference in the lives of children facing critical illness, including the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital in Concord, N.C., and through a foundation that has raised nearly $10 million.

A new twist this year will allow fans to take part in the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame ceremony by voting on TMS’ top moment from the 2009 season in the Fan Choice Award presented by 1310 The Ticket. Gordon’s first victory at TMS; Helio Castroneves’ record-tying third career IndyCar Series win in June’s Bombardier Learjet 550k and Jimmie Johnson’s early-lap wreck in the Dickies 500 that changed the complexion of the championship race are the featured moments. Fans can vote at www.texasmotorspeedway.com. One fan will have the opportunity to announce the winner and present the award during the festivities.

The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame, located in the outdoor atrium adjacent to The Speedway Club, is open year-round and free to the public. The Hall of Fame atrium features pedestals of the inductees, including their career highlights.

The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Gala benefits Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter. The organization’s mission is to care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them lead productive lives. Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter has distributed more than $6.7 million in grants to local children’s organizations in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties.

A VIP reception hosted by previous Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees will take place prior to the awards ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT on the ninth floor in the Grand Ballroom. The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will begin following conclusion of the ARCA Racing Series Rattlesnake 150.