NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: First Hall Class Makes History
The Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction was a huge success...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted May 23, 2010   Charlotte, NC
Junior Johnson (Left) and Richard Petty (Right) were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Sunday. (Photo: Getty Images)
At long last, NASCAR officially has its first Hall of Fame class signed, sealed and delivered.

Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Junior Johnson, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt all were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Uptown Charlotte Sunday afternoon. The induction ceremony was televised live on SPEED and will be rebroadcast tonight at 11 p.m. ET.

The historic induction capped a busy month of activities in Charlotte, with more yet to come. By all measures, the event was a huge success. “It was way more than I ever dreamed it could be,” team owner Rick Hendrick said in describing the day.

In many ways, the event represented the best NASCAR has to offer. In stark contrast to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Banquet, which often seems like nothing more than 10 drivers reciting the same speech, the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was filled with emotion and drama, despite its length.

“It was an emotional day, and I didn't anticipate that,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “This was different today. This was about everybody in this sport.”
Richard Petty is the all-time wins leader in NASCAR. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images for NASCAR)

“It hit me today that this is a really, really big deal,” said Petty of being one of the five members of the first class.

Car owner Richard Childress fought back tears, as he talked about his former driver and best friend. And he laughed, too, retelling the famous story about other drivers complaining about the speeds being too high at Talladega. “He told ‘em that if they’re scared they should tie kerosene rags around their ankles so the ants don’t crawl up their legs and chew their candy asses off,” Childress said of Earnhardt.

Each of Earnhardt’s four children — Kerry, Kelley, Dale Jr. and Taylor — spoke eloquently and passionately about the different facets of their father that they saw growing up. “We all look like him,” said Taylor. “We all act like him, too - stubborn as a fence post.”

Teresa Earnhardt, in a rare public appearance, recalled observations many others made about her late husband. “There’s Earnhardt and there’s everybody else,” Teresa quoted car owner Bud Moore as saying.

Later, she added, “It’s great to continue Dale’s legend this way.”

“It came from the heart from all of us,” said Kerry.


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