Saturday, January 17, 2009

Who do you love? Name your hall of famers

NASCAR will induct five people each year into its Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., beginning with the inaugural class in 2010.

We're giving you a list of some of the people who'll be among those considered. We'd like for you tell us who you think should be put into the hall in its first three years.

Add your picks, five for each year, to the comments section of this blog. We'll compile your results and post them next week.

Some of the candidates

Bobby Allison - The 1983 champion won 84 (some historians say 85) races in NASCAR's top series.

Davey Allison - Bobby's son won 19 races in just 191 starts in a career cut short by his tragic death in a helicopter crash in 1993.

Sam Ard - Ard won the 1983 and '84 championships in what is now NASCAR's Nationwide Series before injuries cut his career short. He won 22 times in just 92 starts.

Buck Baker - Won the 1956 and 1957 championships in what is now the Cup series and scored 46 career victories.

Buddy Baker - Known for his prowess on the sport's fastest tracks, Baker won 19 races and recorded the first official closed-course lap topping 200 mph in a stock car.

Geoffrey Bodine - Won 18 races in the Cup series and helped develop several revolutionary changes to the basic NASCAR race car. Also won 55 modified races in one year (1978).

Neil Bonnett - This winner of 18 races was one of the sport's most popular drivers who went on to a career as a television analyst before being killed in a racing crash.

Harold Brasington - Brasington, against conventional wisdom of the day, built NASCAR's first superspeedway in Darlington, S.C.

Red Byron - Won the first championship in what is now the Cup series in 1949 with a leg that had to bolted to the clutch after he suffered injuries as a tail-gunner in World War II.

Jerry Cook - A six-time champion in NASCAR's modified series, he won 342 races in a career that spanned three decades. He still works with NASCAR in an administrative role.

Clay Earles - Legendary owner of Martinsville Speedway, the only track still on the Cup schedule that was part of the first season of that series in 1949.

Dale Earnhardt - A seven-time champion who won 76 races and the hearts of millions of fans who still consider him the greatest NASCAR competitor of all time.

Richie Evans - No driver won more NASCAR championships than Evans, who won nine of them in the modified series - eight of them in a row from 1978-1985.

Tim Flock - Won two championships and 39 races in 187 career starts, giving him the second-best winning percentage (20.9 percent) of all time in the Cup series.

Raymond Fox Sr. - One of the great car and engine builders in NASCAR history, he was a crew chief for such drivers as Fireball Roberts, Junior Johnson, Buck Baker, Buddy Baker and Bobby Allison.

Bill France Sr. - "Big Bill" was the man who brought organization to stock car racing with the founding of NASCAR. He served as its iron-handed and iron-willed president for more than 20 years.

Bill France Jr. - Followed in his father's footsteps and led the sport from 1972 until he turned over the reins to his son, Brian, three decades later. Saw the sport through a period of explosive growth.

Barney Hall - The voice of NASCAR on Motor Racing Network, he has been bringing racing to listeners for nearly as long as NASCAR has existed.

John Holman-Ralph Moody - Owners of the Ford factory-backed team that dominated NASCAR in the 1960s. Their cars won 96 Cup races and two championships with David Pearson.

Harry Hyde - One of the sport's legendary crew chiefs, he worked with Bobby Isaac and Tim Richmond and won 56 Cup races. Hyde also played a major role in helping Rick Hendrick get his NASCAR start.

Jack Ingram - A five-time champion in the NASCAR late model and Busch series, Ingram won 31 races in the latter and was its all-time leading winner when he retired.

Dale Inman - Won eight championships as a crew chief, including seven with Richard Petty. His other time came with driver Terry Labonte.

Bobby Isaac - Won 37 Cup races, including 17 in 1969 and 11 the next year when won the Cup Series championship.

Ned Jarrett - Winner of 50 Cup races and championships in that series in 1961 and 1965. He ran only seven full seasons before retiring as a driver and going on to a long career as a broadcaster.

Dale Jarrett - Won the championship in 1999 and retired with 32 career victories, including Daytona 500 wins in 1993, 1996 and 2000.

Junior Johnson - The winner of 50 races as a driver, he went on to a long career as a team owner and crew chief, winning three championships with Cale Yarborough and three more with Darrell Waltrip.

Carl Kiekhaefer - Although he was a NASCAR team owner for just two years, he was among the first to have a multicar team. His cars won 52 of the 101 races held in 1955-56.

Terry Labonte - The winner of 22 races, Labonte won his first Cup title in 1984 at the age of 27 and then his second in 1996 when he was 39.

Fred Lorenzen - One of the first great stars in NASCAR's superspeedway era, Lorenzen won 26 races in his career highlighted by his tenure with the Holman-Moody Ford factory team.

Banjo Matthews - An accomplished modified driver in his own right, Matthews made his NASCAR name as the builder of race cars. From 1974 through 1985, his cars won 262 of the 362 Cup races held.

Bud Moore - Moore was the car owner for Joe Weatherly's 1962 and 1963 championships. His teams won 63 races in nearly 40 years of competition.

Raymond Parks - The champion car owner in Cup's first season in 1949 and a true racing pioneer. His cars dominated Lakewood Speedway near Atlanta, one of America's first truly great racing ovals.

Benny Parsons - One of the sport's finest gentlemen, Parsons won 21 races and the 1973 championship. He then had a long career as a broadcaster, spreading his passion for racing to fans watching at home.

Jim Paschal - Counted two World 600 (now Coca-Cola 600) victories among his career total of 25 wins. Paschal was among the competitors in Darlington's first Southern 500 in 1950.

David Pearson - "The Silver Fox" won 105 races, second on the all-time list, and three championships. He also won 64 superspeedway poles, first on the all-time list.

Lee Petty - The man who started the Petty dynasty won 54 races and three championships in what is now the Cup series. He never finished lower than sixth in the championship standings.

Maurice Petty - The chief engine builder for the Petty family's team for more than 20 years, he was named mechanic of the year seven times in a career that saw him help his brother, Richard, win five championships.

Richard Petty - "The King." He won 200 races, a record, and seven championships, which is tied for the record. In 1967, he won 27 races, including 10 straight at one point. Yes, those are records, too.

Tim Richmond - One of the sport's most flamboyant personalities, he emerged as a star in 1986 when he got seven of his 13 career wins. He missed the first part of 1987 with an illness, though, and died in 1989 from AIDS.

Fireball Roberts - Known as the sport's first true star attraction, he won 32 races in a 15-year career that ended when he was severely burned in the 1964 World 600, wounds that eventually took his life.

T. Wayne Robertson - In 13 years as president of sports marketing for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Robertson led Winston Cup into its modern era of popularity. He helped bring about the sport's all-star event at Charlotte, which will run for the 25th time this year.

Paul Sawyer - Sawyer began promoting races at the state fairgrounds in Richmond in 1955 and guided that track through more than 40 years of great competition and explosive growth.

Wendell Scott - The only black man to ever win a race in NASCAR's top series, Scott won 128 features on short tracks in his native Virginia while racing in an era when his every success came against a strong headwind of racism.

Ralph Seagraves - Seagraves helped bring R.J. Reynolds into NASCAR in 1971, marking the beginning of what is considered the sport's "modern era." RJR's backing of the sport was critical to its survival and eventual growth.

Bruton Smith - Promoted races for two decades before, along with Curtis Turner, building what is now Lowe's Motor Speedway. That track, now marking its 50th season, was the cornerstone for what is now a far-flung racing empire called Speedway Motorsports.

Herb Thomas - The first driver to win two championships (1951 and 1953) also was a three-time winner of the Southern 500 at Darlington. He won 48 races in his career.

Curtis Turner - He won 17 races in his career, but is often said that he never lost a party. One of the most colorful drivers in NASCAR history, many feel he had as much natural talent of any driver who ever lived.

Red Vogt - One of the greatest auto mechanics of all time, he used his talent to make cars go fast when carrying "moonshine" through the Georgia hills and other cars to go fast when they raced in the Atlanta area.

Rusty Wallace - Ranks eighth all-time with 55 career Cup victories. Wallace won the championship in 1988 and also won a total of 18 races in 1993 and '94.

Darrell Waltrip - A three-time champion who won 84 races and never saw a microphone he didn't like, Waltrip has made his name known to a new generation of race fans as a television analyst.

Joe Weatherly - The 1962-63 champion in NASCAR's top series, Weatherly had 25 career wins in that series. He also won three motorcycle racing titles and a modified title before coming to stock cars.

Humpy Wheeler - NASCAR's version of P.T. Barnum, Wheeler has been around the sport since his childhood. He began promoting races at small tracks near where he grew up in North Carolina and went on to help shape Lowe's Motor Speedway into one of NASCAR's most exciting tracks.

Rex White - The 1960 champion of NASCAR's top series ended his career with 28 race victories, leaving him among the top-25 race winners of all time.

Wood Brothers (Leonard and Glen) - Seventeen of the drivers named to NASCAR's list of the 50 greatest of all time have driven cars owned and prepared by the Woods, who were among the first to emphasize speed on pit stops.

Cale Yarborough - Three-time champion and the winner of 83 races in his career, Yarborough was the embodiment of determination in a race car. He won the Southern 500 five times and the Daytona 500 four times.

Robert Yates - A championship-winning engine builder with roots in the Holman-Moody operation, Yates became a team owner and began working with Davey Allison. Eleven years later he won a championship with Dale Jarrett. His other drivers, including Ricky Rudd and Ernie Irvan, top many who's-who lists.

Smokey Yunick - Perhaps the most famous - or infamous - racing mechanic of all time. He worked with Herb Thomas and Fireball Roberts and worked against - and often with great success - the people who wrote NASCAR's rules.

91 comments:

Unknown said...

I can't believe Bill Elliott isn't on the list. He's got to go in.

Unknown said...

Jim -- He will. I didn't put anybody who is still active on the list.

Anonymous said...

Your list is good, except for Dale Jarrett--please take that traitor off the list.

Anonymous said...

OK Anonymous #3 put down the cool-aid. I don't beleive David mentioned Dale Jarrett, but he did mention Ned. Peace!

racinreb said...

1st Yr
Bill France Sr
Lee Petty
Bruton Smith
Humpy Wheeler
Fireball Roberts

2nd Yr
Bill France Jr.
Tim Flock
Dale Earnhardt
Richard Petty
David Pearson

3rd Yr
Junior Johnson
T. Wayne Robertson
Wood Brothers (Leonard and Glen)
John Holman-Ralph Moody
Harold Brasington

Anonymous said...

Year 1:
Bill France, Sr.
Richard Petty
Junior Johnson
Sam Ard
Wood Brothers (Leonard and Glen)

Year 2:
David Pearson
Smokey Yunik
Lee Petty
Tim Flock
Dale Earnhardt

Year 3:
Dale Inman
Red Byron
Clay Earles
Barney Hall
Maurice Petty

Anonymous said...

Bill Elliott!!!

Anonymous said...

Year 1
France Sr.----- Founder.

Lee Petty -- 1st 3 time champ.

Richard Petty- Name is all needed.

Fireball Roberts- sports first superstar.

David Pearson- 2nd triple digit winner in win's.

Year 2
France Jr.-Carried his Dad's torch real well.

Junior Johnson-Wins as owner-driver and Cup's won.

Ned Jarrett-Not only a great driver but Ambassodor to sport.

Maurice Petty- Nascar's winningest engine builder, period.

Rex White-A great driver and still a great spokesman for the sport.

Year 3
Dale Inman- Nascar's only 8 time Champ in top series.

Bobby Allison- With right circumstances could have 150 win's 6-8 cup's.

Buck Baker-Great driver alway's up front.

Tim Flock- He was Richard Petty before Richard.

Joe Weatherly- Died way to soon.

Anonymous said...

Suitcase Jake Elder

Anonymous said...

David,

I thought your list was near perfect. The 2009 class of Big Bill, the King, the Intimidator, Silver Fox, and Junior was excellent.

I question your class of 2012. If Bruton Smith is still chair of SMI, how does he rate induction when the rules state you have to be retired for 3 years in the role you are nominated for?

I could see Humpy Wheeler getting a nod before Smith since Wheeler was forced out at LMS this past year as track president/promoter. Plus it would be the perfect way for NASCAR to stick it to Smith, by inducting his former employee ahead of him.

I would figure that you, Monte Dutton, or some of the other media would push some of the heroes of the undercard divisions like Sam Ard or Richie Evans.

With Obama going into the White House this week, I would be willing to bet that Wendell Scott makes it in before Obama leaves there so NASCAR can say what a wonderful all inclusive place they are.

Rockin Rich said...

I would like to see an expanded 1st year, charter member induction, then 5 a year after that.

I suggest a 7 charter member list with the following rules:

• One non-driver minimum;
• One pre-modern era person minimum;

I think that the procedures for how the selections will be made, and who will do them have been published, but I don't recall them. Might be useful to add that to this thread.

There are so many very deserving people for this honor. I hope that the selection process is better managed than the reckless way the Beach Bozos have been guiding the ship we call NASCAR, (or NA$CAR, or NASCRAP), for the last several years.

And, as a comment, I would like to see Wendell Scott in the Hall. He may have only one win. However, I can't imagine that there is anyone that faced, and overcame, more adversity to follow his racing dream than that man did.

Anonymous said...

LEATORYOBAMA
TYSON
SCOTT

Anonymous said...

DAMN! I can't believe that for once there was a poll, and Junior didn't get a vote.

Anonymous said...

Dale Earnhardt is a 7 time champ.he needs to go in the first time.

Anonymous said...

....not even a mention!!! of cale yarborough..and their names escape me, but surely the two men who built Darlington.

Anonymous said...

Year Uno...

Bill France Sr.
Richard Petty
Dale Earnhardt
David Pearson
Junior Johnson

Anonymous said...

1st Class:
Bill France, Sr.
Lee Petty
Fireball Roberts
Smokey Yunick
Joe Weatherly

2nd Class:
Richard Petty
David Pearson
Tiny Lund
Herb Thomas
Tim Flock

3rd Class
Buck Baker
James Hylton
Cale Yarborough
Bobby Allison
Dale Earnhardt

Anonymous said...

The obvious choices for the first NASCAR HOF are BILL FRANCE SR., RICHARD PETTY, DAVID PEARSON, CALE YARBOROUGH, DARRELL WALTRIP.

DALE’s legacy has been tainted and exaggerated by his early death however he should enter after the first five.

boonedog said...

Are you sure NASCAR will allow those old racers in the hall? They spoke their mind, wrecked each other and then fought after the race. They wouldn't make today. They were such a bad influence on us kids...

Anonymous said...

Bill France, senior
Bill France, junior
Dale Earnhardt Senior
Fireball Roberts
Junior Johnson

Anonymous said...

Year one

Earnhardt Sr.
Richard Petty
David Pearson
Ray Evernham (Crew Chief)
Junior Johnson

Rockin Rich said...

Adding to my earlier posting:

If I had read all of David's articles first, I wouldn't have made that dumb statement about not seeing the proposed procedures for selecting the honorees.

Sorry 'bout that!

Unknown said...

Come on people...Everybody knows Bill Elliot has to be on this list!
Get real.

Anonymous said...

I just think some are not realizing that with the following people, NASCAR would not even be here.

Bill France
Lee Petty
Richard Petty
Dale Earnhart
Junior Johnson

Everything NASCAR has or will have was decided by these 5 men. Sure there were role players everywhere, but these guys WERE the show. Period.

Anonymous said...

Bill France Sr.
Bill France Jr.
Lee Petty
Richard Petty
Barney Hall
Dale Inman
Dale Earnhardt

Anonymous said...

What about Alan Kulwicki? That man did it all--HIS WAY! Great owner-driver who embodied the American dream and Polish-American work ethic. He was the American dream, much like Dale Sr. To me, he is the greatest example of a success in NASCAR, and to leave him out is to be forgetful of truly remarkable accomplishment.

Anonymous said...

NASCAR was in existence long before Dale Earnhardt joined the ranks. There were others prior to him that were as good, if not better, based on the equipment, rules, etc. of the time.

The sport was founded on drivers such as;

Lee Petty
Herb Thomas
Fireball Roberts
David Pearson
Buck Baker
Joe Weatherly
Bobby Issac, Etc.

who were before Richard, Cale and Dale. Without these stars of there time, Richard, Cale and Dale wouldn't have had the opportunity they had, nor the accomplishments. Richard would probably be the first one to agree!

This is a Hall of Fame that encompasses the beginning of the sport to the present. If you are a true fan, do your research and learn the history, it isn't all about NOW!

Anonymous said...

TERRY LABONTE ALL THE WAY!

dizzding said...

David "the silver fox"pearson of course.

Anonymous said...

I sure hope that they look at all the other HOFs before they decide on the rules for inductees.

I love baseball, but for the life of me I cannot understand the way folks vote. It should not be a political reward. Why is it that a player can not recieve the needed votes the 1st year of eligibility, nor the 2nd, nor the 3rd, nor the 4th, and so on. Then on the 15th and last year, THEY GET THE VOTES THEY NEED! Like this year. Good greif, the stats did not get better. Sympathy? That's not what the Hall is for.

thumbwrench said...

Year One

1) Richard Petty
2) France Sr.
3) Earnhardt Sr.
4) Jr. Johnson
5) David Pearson

Unknown said...

year one
Smokey Yunick
Wood Brothers
Curtis Turner
Lee Petty
David Pearson

Anonymous said...

the forst class has to include Pearson, Petty and Earnhardt

Unknown said...

year 2

Buck baker
Tim Flock
Bud Moore
Fireball Roberts
Joe Weatherly

year3

Cale Yarborough
Rex White
Junior Johnson
Dale Earnhardt
Richard Petty

Anonymous said...

Ralph Seagraves. As the NHRA's Dallas Gardner said: "the patriarch of motorsports sponsorship".

Your list focusing on drivers and owner/mgmt. types ignores a basic tenant of NASCAR, and racing:

Cubic Dollars wins.

Without Ralph Seagraves and Winston, the sport may have remained well below the radar.

If NASCAR ignores this man's contribution-in the first class, for fear of being less than politically correct regarding tobacco or current sponsor conserns, they should be docked points.

Anonymous said...

Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Richard Petty

Anonymous said...

How about Tim Richmond ? He was also the rookie of the year at the Indianoplis 500 !

Anonymous said...

yvonne said...

dale jarrett!!!!!!!
ned jarrett
dale earnhardt
bobby allison
david pearson

Anonymous said...

Alan Kulwicki should be on the list.

Anonymous said...

Annette said.....

Dale Jarrett is #1
Dale Earnhardt, Sr

Anonymous said...

David, I can't argue too much with the lists you've proposed for the first three classes. But to your list of potential nominees I would add Ray Evernham. Not only was he one of the most successful crew chiefs in NASCAR history, but he totally redefined how crews and shops work. Just as the Wood Brothers refined the notion of how teams worked in the late 50s and 60s, Evernham's insistence on athleticism, preparation, specialization and speed remade the team concept in the 90s.

Anonymous said...

Bill France
Lee Petty
Richard Petty
Dale Earnhardt
David Pearson

Anonymous said...

1st year:Dale Earnhardt
Lee Petty
Bill France,Sr
Richard Petty
Sam Ard
2nd year: Wood Brothers
Dale Inman
Bud Moore
Junior Johnson
T. Wayne Robertson
3rd year: Alan Kulwicki
Tim Richmond
Richard Childress
Fireball Roberts
David Pearson

Anonymous said...

SOMEWHERE you've got to include CHRIS ECONOMAKI. He was THE man in motorsports broadcasting.

Anonymous said...

Hey! COMMISH24.
You're right about Ray Evernham. He was the first to destroy a team by getting tangled up in a destructive sexual relationship with his driver.
Talk about a stupid, selfish, SOB.....

Anonymous said...

Jeff Gordon and Alan Kulwicki....ASAP

Anonymous said...

The list is really good. My favorites are Bill Elliott, Adam Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace.

Anonymous said...

Alan Kulwicki some time in a future year. Died far too young.

Anonymous said...

Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki absolutely should not be left out.

Anonymous said...

I'm not going to argue about the selections. My gripe is about the process. I don't like a fixed number per year. The model should be Cooperstown: get 75% of the votes and you're in. Sure, year one might see 30 entries, but then it gets interesting. I mean, take your top five and your next five. They should ALL be in, no doubt. Let them in now!

Anonymous said...

1st Year:
Bill France, SR
Lee Petty
Richard Petty
Dale Earnhardt, SR
R.J. Reynolds (Ralph Seagraves)

2nd Year:
Tim Flock
David Pearson
Juinor Johnson
Smokey Yunik
Ned Jarrett

3rd Year:
Wood Brothers (Leonard & Glen)
Herb Thomas
Clay Earles
Dale Inman
Benny Parsons

A shame we're only talking about letting five in a year when there are so many great names over the history of this sport. Where does the list of possible members end? Can someone that was such a strong factor behind the scenes like Edwin Keith "Banjo" Matthews have a chance too? Look up some stats on cars he built.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Poole, Regarding "Eligibility" for the Hall of Fame, what does retired mean? For instance will Richard Petty be eligible the first year (as a driver) since he's been retired from driving for 3 years even though he is still active as an owner? Also, would that mean that Bruton Smith will not be "eligible" as long as he is an officer of SMI? Thank you.

BobbyCal said...

Junie Donlavey should be among the first inductees. The gentleman from Virginia has probably trained more drivers and crewman than anyone in Nascar history !!!

Anonymous said...

Simple induct all the dead ones in the first year And I mean ALL of them. 2nd year do the ones that where ambassador's to the sport. Not only drivers but crew as well. Then from year 3 on only do those that truly deserve it and not a opinion poll, let their actions get them in or leave them out

Anonymous said...

Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Poole, Thank you for the US Air crash article - EXCEPTIONAL. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Neil Bonnett
Dale Earnhardt
Cale Yarbourgh
David Pearson
Bill Elliott

g wilson said...

richie evans 9 time mod champ #1

Anonymous said...

What difference does it make who gets in.Its a Hall of fame dedicated to a entertainment venue that has no credibility.
May it crumble and fall.

Anonymous said...

Since Nascar has been in existence over 50 yrs. before the HOF has been built, it might make sense for the first 3 yrs. or so to do 1.5x per year to catch up some.

Glad you included Smokey Yunick. He was the mechanic for several of the drivers on your list. He was a real pioneer not only in racin, but also invented automotive features we take for granted today like variable ratio power steering, aerodynamics, tubular framing. He had the first flow bench for flowing heads. Designed & built some of the first emission control equipment.

Jen said...

Alan Kulwicki - the ultimate racer and the last owner/driver to win a championship. His career may have been short, but his legacy will always remain a part of NASCAR history.

Anonymous said...

1st year:
Bill France, Sr.
Dale Earnhardt, Sr.
Richard Petty
Tim Richmond
Davey Allison

2nd Year:
David Pearson
Bill France, Jr.
Humpy Wheeler
Harold Brasington
Darrell Waltrip

3rd Year:
Bobby Allison
Cale Yarborough
Wood Brothers
Robert Yates
Burton Smith

WILD CARD: Ernie Irvan - You have to admit that he was awesome. He won the Hardcharger Award in 1994 and did not finish the season, and made the best comeback in sports history.

Anonymous said...

Rex White, Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner

Anonymous said...

Trickle

Dan said...

I'll just do one list:

Richard Petty
David Pearson
Cale Yarbrough
Dale Earnhardt
Curtis Turner (yes, wild man Turner, when I started watching NASCAR it was back in the early 60's when they would show black and white reruns in the DC area. Curtis was my favorite.)

Anonymous said...

David Pearson
Richard Petty
Jr. Johnson
Bobby Allison
Bill Elliott

mcleodah said...

David Pearson
Richard Petty
jr. Johnson
Bobby Allison
Bill Elliott

Are my picks, have enjoyed them the
most over the last 50 odd years

Anonymous said...

Jack P said
France Sr, France JR, Lee Petty,Wood Bros,Banjo Mathews,Harry Hyde,Bud Moore,Lee Petty,Jr Johnson,Fireball Roberts,Red Byron I think to get started in first year 10 need elected they are the real pioneers

Anonymous said...

Davey Allison
Bobby Allison
Clifford Allison
Neil Bonnett
Alan Kulwicki
Kenny Irwin
Adam Petty
Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Anonymous said...

Bill France, Sr.
Bill France, Jr.
Richard Petty
David Pearson
Junior Johnson

Anonymous said...

1. Bill Broderick (the "hat man")
2. "Miss Hurst" Linda Vaughan
3. Tim Richmond
4. Dick Trickle
5. Jimmy Spencer

stricklinfan82 said...

Year 1:

Bill France Sr.
Richard Petty
Dale Earnhardt
David Pearson
Darrell Waltrip

Year 2:

Cale Yarborough
Bobby Allison
Lee Petty
Ned Jarrett
Bill France Jr.

Year 3:

Junior Johnson
Herb Thomas
Buck Baker
Tim Flock
Rusty Wallace

Anonymous said...

This list will make Poole happy.
Rick Hendrick
Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Tony Stewart
E. Junior

Anonymous said...

1st year:
bill france sr
lee petty
richard petty
david pearson
dale earnhardt

2nd year:
cale yarborough
bobby allison
darrell waltrip
junior johnson
humpy wheeler

3rd year:
tim richmond
rusty wallace
fireball roberts
fred lorenzen
wood brothers

Anonymous said...

1. J D McDuffie
2. Wendell Scott
3. Richard Petty
4. Dale Earnhart Sr.
5. Benny Parsons

Anonymous said...

Richard Petty
Lee Petty
Bill France, Sr.
David Pearson
Dale Inman

Anonymous said...

David Pearson
Davey Allison
Bill Elliott
Dale Earnhardt
Richard Petty

Anonymous said...

Well David they are all great picks,but if we over look the past and I mean the beginning of it all we will never get them in. So my first pick would be for yr 1.
Bill sr. We need not to say anything
Lee Petty First 3 time Champ
Red Byron First Nascar Champ
Ned Jarrett 50 wins 2 championships in 7 yrs
Sam Ard 2 Time Bush Champ
And I think it would be great if we could choose people from different times 40s 50s 60s and so on.

Anonymous said...

1st year
Bill France Sr.
Harold Brasington
Barney Hall
Ralph Seagraves
Lee Petty

2nd year
Richard Petty
Tim Flock
Ned Jarrett
T. Wayne Robertson
Paul Sawyer

3rd year
Clay Earles
Fireball Roberts
David Pearson
Bill France Jr.
Junior Johnson

rb218 said...

Year 1:
Bill France Sr.
Bill France Jr.
Lee Petty
Richard Petty
Dale Earnhardt

Year 2:
Junior Johnson
Fireball Roberts
David Pearson
Bobby Allison
Cale Yarbrough

Year 3:
Smokey Yunick
Ralph Seagraves
Wendell Scott
Wood Brothers
Raymond Fox Sr.

Anonymous said...

Ken Schrader. sometime down the road but he should be in somewhere.

Anonymous said...

How about Benny Parsons???????????????

Anonymous said...

Ernie Irvan needs to be in for his colorful rise through the sport as well as the wins.

Monkeesfan said...

RICHARD PETTY

DAVID PEARSON

BOBBY ISAAC

FRANCE SR AND JR. (joint induction)

CALE YARBOROUGH

Monkeesfan said...

BTW, in their induction speeches, Richard and David can fight about the '74 Firecracker again like they did this past July. LOL

Anonymous said...

This is my list
Dale Earnhardt Sr. I was not a fan of the Man in Black but I respect him and I believe that he should be in the first class.

Bill France Sr. The Founder of Nascar

Bill France Jr. The Man that really got Nascar and made it bigger then a regional sport.

Richard Petty The King 'nuff said

Now for the Wild card one the one that people will call me an idiot or a fool for putting him in the first class

Barney Hall There is a reason why he is called the voice of Nascar.

That is my list and I stand behind it. I will admit I had a bit of trouble between Lee Petty and Barney Hall but I am sticking to my guns

Anonymous said...

I forgot to put down years 2 and 3 sorry well here goes. By the way This is done alphabetically to avoid favoritism

Junior Johnson The best driver that never won a Championship.

Lee Petty. The Man was always in the top six every year. He founded Petty Enterprises and was a Multi-Year Champion and won the first Daytona 500.

T. Wayne Robertson I think he should be in for the Winston Cup era and i think that RJR should be in as Winston if they allow sponsors some day.

Cale Yarborough 3 time Champion. In a row mind you. Yes I realize that it has been done since but he also walked away at the peak of his career. Ok he merely cut back but it was to spend time with his family and isn't this one of the last family sports around?

Smokey Yunick Owner of the best damn garage in town. He was one of the orginal "innovators" of Nascar

Year three
Richie Evans Who said cup and Busch Guys only in this hall?

David Pearson The Silver Fox yes i realize he is in year 3 but everyone can't get in the first year.

Maurice Petty Engine Builder for Petty Enterprises. No I am not putting him in just because of his last name. Named Mechanic of the year 7 Times over 20 years or so. He gets in.

Darrell Waltrip Three time Champion and like him or not a lively announcer on Fox. 85 Wins too.

Humpy Wheeler The man made what I consider to be the modern Nascar event. Sure you had races but Humpy really made them events and took them to the next level.

Ok now the hate mail will start.

Anonymous said...

rusty won in 1989, not 1988.

Rusty rules!

Anonymous said...

It isn't going to draw me to visit if there are only five people represented there. On the other hand, admission shouldn't be too loose to make it meaningless. Maybe it should be limited to those who have left us (and of course The King!).

Anonymous said...

Poole only mentions his favorites,then makes excuses why he left someone out.What! has Tony Stewart done that puts him above real men like Dale Jarret and Rusty Wallace.He didn't mention Kurt Busch either.Only his favorites that he crams down your throat week end and week out.Let's hope NASCAR doe's as they usually do and pays Poole no attention.Tony Stewart???

Anonymous said...

That photo of Cale Yarborough has been on the main page so long it has burned into my LCD. Somebody please update the dang website.