They are due to come out with the Top 25 names, later today, that will form the nominations for the first class for the new NASCAR Hall of Fame down in Charlotte.
We have been seeing many of the first class nominees in recent days and if you were in charge of the selection committee, who would you put in the very first class?
Here’s my Top Five and although I don’t know alot about auto racing I still have formed some opinion about the names that have really influenced the sport over the years and here is my Top 5 and I’d like to get your Top 5 so we can start comparing lists when the official list is released.
Here’s my Top 5 and I’ll include one honorable mention:
1)Richard Petty(How do you leave out “The King”, and did Lee Petty really influence the sport as much as his son did?)
2)Dale Earnhardt Sr.(The greatest competitor of all time in NASCAR. The guy died doing what he loved.)
3)Junior Johnson(This man was a character and he added character to the sport. Junior Johnson drank moonshine and Richard Childress drinks vineyard wines. Give it to Junior.)
4)Bill France Sr.(The man pioneered the sport, from what I have read and heard.)
5)Bobby Allison(He challenged Richard Petty and made him work to earn some of those checkered flags back in 60’s and 70’s.)
Honorable Mention:
Cale Yarborough(He was great on those Hardees commercials back in the day, when he beat Richard Petty, who was spinning out in the Ray’s Burgers parking lot.)
*****As far as the rest of the drivers/owners go, they can all go jump in a greasepit.*****
Here are the 25 nominees and the Final Five will be announced in October. The list is from the News and Record and Dustin Long, N&R NASCAR writer, has his picks and comments along side the nominees……To get the full report from Dustin Long and the N&R Click Here.
BOBBY ALLISON
Hometown: Hueytown, Ala.
Notable: Tied for third on all-time list with 84 wins. Won 1983 series title and is a three-time Daytona 500 champ.
First-ballot chances: Good
Hello to Hall: Should be in by second year
BUCK BAKER
Hometown: Charlotte
Notable: First two-time champion (1956, ’57). Finished first or second in points each year from 1955-58. Won 46 races.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: Likely four or more years away
RED BYRON
Hometown: Anniston, Ala.
Notable: Inaugural series champion (1949) and winner of the first NASCAR-sanctioned race.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: Might be five years off
RICHARD CHILDRESS
Hometown: Winston-Salem
Notable: Independent driver who was nominated as a car owner. Has six titles as an owner and finished second three times.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: Chances improve after five years
DALE EARNHARDT
Hometown: Kannapolis
Notable: Seven-time champion who won 76 races. All-time leader in total victories at Daytona International Speedway (34).
First-ballot chances: Lock
RICHIE EVANS
Hometown: Rome, N.Y.
Notable: Nine-time NASCAR Modifieds champion. Considered series’ greatest Modifieds driver before his death at Martinsville.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: Maybe in five years or so
TIM FLOCK
Hometown: Fort Payne, Ala.
Notable: Won 39 races in 187 starts (20.8 percent winning percentage). Two-time champion. Drove at times with a monkey in the car.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: Doors open in three to four years
BILL FRANCE SR.
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Notable: Driving force behind NASCAR’s creation and ran the sport from its beginnings in 1949 until 1972.
First-ballot chances: Count on it
BILL FRANCE JR.
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Notable: Took over sport from his father in 1972 and led it until 2000 as NASCAR grew from a regional to a national sport.
First-ballot chances: Possible
Hello to Hall: No later than Year 2
RICK HENDRICK
Hometown: Palmer Springs, Va.
Notable: Sport’s top car owner. Tied with Richard Childress with 11 total NASCAR titles as an owner. Has eight Cup titles.
First-ballot chances: Try again
Hello to Hall: May be five years or so away
NED JARRETT
Hometown: Newton
Notable: Two-time champ who won 50 races. Retired before age 35.
First-ballot chances: Try again
Hello to Hall: Three to four years away
JUNIOR JOHNSON
Hometown: Ronda
Notable: Won 50 races as a driver and 139 races and six titles as a car owner.
First-ballot chances: Fans might be drinking moonshine with him in May
Hello to Hall: If not in Year 1, then in Year 2
BUD MOORE
Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C.
Notable: Car owner for Joe Weatherly’s two titles and revolutionized the sport as the first owner to use two-way radio communication. Car owner for 37 years.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: Might have a to wait awhile
RAYMOND PARKS
Hometown: Dawson County, Ga.
Notable: One of the sport’s earliest car owners. His car won the first series race and title.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: Also might have to wait awhile
BENNY PARSONS
Hometown: Detroit
Notable: Won the 1973 title and collected 21 career wins. First driver to qualify a stock car at more than 200 mph.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: Likely four years away or longer
DAVID PEARSON
Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C.
Notable: Three-time champion ranks second all-time with 105 wins. Ranks second with 113 poles.
First-ballot chances: He’ll be in Charlotte in May
LEE PETTY
Hometown: Level Cross
Notable: First driver to win three series titles. His 54 wins ranked first all-time until son Richard surpassed his total.
First-ballot chances: Deserving, but unlikely
Hello to Hall: Year 2 he makes it
RICHARD PETTY
Hometown: Level Cross
Notable: Seven-time champion who has a series-record 200 wins and was known just as much for how he treated fans.
First-ballot chances: Everyone get your cowboy hats ready
FIREBALL ROBERTS
Hometown: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Notable: Won 33 races and often is described as the sport’s greatest driver without a title. Died from injuries suffered in fiery crash in 1964 during the World 600.
First-ballot chances: May get a few votes
Hello to Hall: Definitely by Year 3
HERB THOMAS
Hometown: Sanford
Notable: First two-time series champ who won 48 races. First three-time winner of the Southern 500. Career winning percentage of 21.0 — highest among those with at least 100 starts.
First-ballot chances: Slim
Hello to Hall: Should be in by Year 3
CURTIS TURNER
Hometown: Roanoke, Va.
Notable: Won only 17 races, but is considered one of the sport’s greatest drivers. He was suspended for nearly five seasons for attempting to unionize drivers.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: May have to wait 4 or more years
DARRELL WALTRIP
Hometown: Owensboro, Ky.
Notable: Three-time champion whose 84 wins are tied for third all-time.
First-ballot chances: Outside shot
Hello to Hall: Expect “Boogity, boogity, boogity” by Year 2
JOE WEATHERLY
Hometown: Norfolk, Va.
Notable: Won 25 races and claimed titles in 1962 and ’63 before his death in a crash early in the 1964 season.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: Check back in about four years
GLEN WOOD
Hometown: Stuart, Va.
Notable: Although a driver, he’s known more as one of the leaders of the Wood Brothers team. Helped revolutionize pit stops.
First-ballot chances: None
Hello to Hall: In about three years
CALE YARBOROUGH
Hometown: Sardis, S.C.
Notable: First driver to win three consecutive series titles. Collected 83 wins, including four Daytona 500s.
First-ballot chances: Could slip in
Hello to Hall: Lock by Year 2.
Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com
Earnhardt, The King, Bill France, junior johnson, flock