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Sprint Cup
CUP: Hall Panel Will Open Doors For Five
Darrell Waltrip is one of the 25 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year...
Darrell Waltrip says he's disappointed but not angry that he didn't get voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Wednesday. (Photo: Courtesy of NASCAR)
Former NASCAR champions Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and Ned Jarrett are members of various halls of fame across the country, and they voice appreciation for each of those honors. But, when conversation turns to their probable inductions into the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, their eyes show an extra sparkle.
Since the hall opened to good critical reviews this year and the first five inductees were showered with accolades and enshrined in the special Hall of Honor in the new building, NASCAR greats who generally aren’t easily impressed have taken note.
“This is the ultimate,” Waltrip said of the hall. “To be inducted into this hall would be sensational.”
Another group of five men will be chosen Wednesday to join Richard Petty, Bill France Sr., Junior Johnson, Bill France Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Sr. in the hall. A voting panel that could include as many as 52 people will make the selections from a ballot that contains 25 nominees.
The voters will meet at the hall Wednesday. Each of the 25 nominees will be reviewed by a NASCAR official, and the voters can select as many as five from the ballot.
The results are scheduled to be announced at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Coverage of the event will begin at 3 p.m. on SPEED.
Who are the electors? Of the 52 potential voters, 20 have direct ties either to NASCAR (officials like chairman Brian France, president Mike Helton and vice president Robin Pemberton) or to speedways that run NASCAR events (track operators like Martinsville’s Clay Campbell, Atlanta’s Ed Clark and former Charlotte Motor Speedway executive Humpy Wheeler).
The next biggest group – 16 – is made up of news media representatives. Television and radio networks, newspapers and Internet websites are represented.
There are nine former drivers or team owners – men like Harry Gant, Ricky Rudd, Cotton Owens and Bud Moore – in the group.
Two members of the Hall of Fame staff – executive director Winston Kelley and historian Buz McKim – have votes, as do Hall members Richard Petty and Junior Johnson. Automobile manufacturers have three votes. A 53rd ballot will be added from national fan voting.
David Pearson, who was expected to go in with the first class by many observers, is a near-certainty for election this year. Allison, Waltrip and Cale Yarborough are considered likely choices, particularly if voters decide to honor accomplishments and victory numbers over pioneering achievements.
Of the key players in the sport’s early years, team owner Raymond Parks and pioneer driver/team owner Lee Petty are considered among the favorites.
McKim, a long-time NASCAR observer who also was a member of last year’s voting panel, said he expects Pearson to win easily. “Pearson and Bobby [Allison] are the two names I’ve heard the most,” he said. “After that, it’s hard to say. It’s kind of all over the board from what I’ve heard. I can’t wait to see how the voting goes.”
McKim said he hasn’t narrowed his choices to five. “I’ve got probably eight I’m thinking of,” he said. “It’s really kind of soul searching right now. You’ve got more modern guys who definitely have earned their place by their performances. And there are older guys who put down the foundation. Which way do you go?”
These voters will decide:
NASCAR/Speedways – Lesa Kennedy, Clay Campbell, Bruton Smith, Ed Clark, Tony George, Denis McGlynn, Joe Mattioli, Dale Pinilis, Jody Deery, Jim and Barbara Cromarty, Jim Williams, Brian France, Jim France, Mike Helton, Robin Pemberton, Paul Brooks, Jim Hunter, Jerry Cook, Ken Clapp, Humpy Wheeler.
News media – Kenny Bruce, Dustin Long, Nate Ryan, Jim Pedley, Duane Cross, Ernie Saxton, Dusty Brandel, Mike Joy, Jerry Punch, Barney Hall, Doug Rice, Rick Allen, Mike Harris, Tom Higgins, Ken Squier, Chris Economaki.
Drivers/Team members – Kyle Petty, Ricky Rudd, Harry Gant, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, Cotton Owens, Buddy Parrott, Waddell Wilson, Barry Dodson.
Hall of Fame representatives – Winston Kelley, Buz McKim, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson.
Car manufacturer representatives – Jim Campbell, Edsel Ford, Lee White.
Fans – one vote.
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
Since the hall opened to good critical reviews this year and the first five inductees were showered with accolades and enshrined in the special Hall of Honor in the new building, NASCAR greats who generally aren’t easily impressed have taken note.
“This is the ultimate,” Waltrip said of the hall. “To be inducted into this hall would be sensational.”
Another group of five men will be chosen Wednesday to join Richard Petty, Bill France Sr., Junior Johnson, Bill France Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Sr. in the hall. A voting panel that could include as many as 52 people will make the selections from a ballot that contains 25 nominees.
The voters will meet at the hall Wednesday. Each of the 25 nominees will be reviewed by a NASCAR official, and the voters can select as many as five from the ballot.
The results are scheduled to be announced at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Coverage of the event will begin at 3 p.m. on SPEED.
Who are the electors? Of the 52 potential voters, 20 have direct ties either to NASCAR (officials like chairman Brian France, president Mike Helton and vice president Robin Pemberton) or to speedways that run NASCAR events (track operators like Martinsville’s Clay Campbell, Atlanta’s Ed Clark and former Charlotte Motor Speedway executive Humpy Wheeler).
The next biggest group – 16 – is made up of news media representatives. Television and radio networks, newspapers and Internet websites are represented.
There are nine former drivers or team owners – men like Harry Gant, Ricky Rudd, Cotton Owens and Bud Moore – in the group.
Two members of the Hall of Fame staff – executive director Winston Kelley and historian Buz McKim – have votes, as do Hall members Richard Petty and Junior Johnson. Automobile manufacturers have three votes. A 53rd ballot will be added from national fan voting.
David Pearson, who was expected to go in with the first class by many observers, is a near-certainty for election this year. Allison, Waltrip and Cale Yarborough are considered likely choices, particularly if voters decide to honor accomplishments and victory numbers over pioneering achievements.
Of the key players in the sport’s early years, team owner Raymond Parks and pioneer driver/team owner Lee Petty are considered among the favorites.
McKim, a long-time NASCAR observer who also was a member of last year’s voting panel, said he expects Pearson to win easily. “Pearson and Bobby [Allison] are the two names I’ve heard the most,” he said. “After that, it’s hard to say. It’s kind of all over the board from what I’ve heard. I can’t wait to see how the voting goes.”
McKim said he hasn’t narrowed his choices to five. “I’ve got probably eight I’m thinking of,” he said. “It’s really kind of soul searching right now. You’ve got more modern guys who definitely have earned their place by their performances. And there are older guys who put down the foundation. Which way do you go?”
These voters will decide:
NASCAR/Speedways – Lesa Kennedy, Clay Campbell, Bruton Smith, Ed Clark, Tony George, Denis McGlynn, Joe Mattioli, Dale Pinilis, Jody Deery, Jim and Barbara Cromarty, Jim Williams, Brian France, Jim France, Mike Helton, Robin Pemberton, Paul Brooks, Jim Hunter, Jerry Cook, Ken Clapp, Humpy Wheeler.
News media – Kenny Bruce, Dustin Long, Nate Ryan, Jim Pedley, Duane Cross, Ernie Saxton, Dusty Brandel, Mike Joy, Jerry Punch, Barney Hall, Doug Rice, Rick Allen, Mike Harris, Tom Higgins, Ken Squier, Chris Economaki.
Drivers/Team members – Kyle Petty, Ricky Rudd, Harry Gant, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, Cotton Owens, Buddy Parrott, Waddell Wilson, Barry Dodson.
Hall of Fame representatives – Winston Kelley, Buz McKim, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson.
Car manufacturer representatives – Jim Campbell, Edsel Ford, Lee White.
Fans – one vote.
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
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