STOCK CAR HISTORY ONLINE POLL RESULTS
A Sneak Preview Of The NASCAR Hall Of Fame Inaugural Class? Stockcarhistoryonline.com recently conducted a survey of nearly 30 well-known motorsports competitors, journalists and officials, groups that could have a say in the matter when it actually counts. They were asked very simply … you’ve got five picks. Who gets in? Actual eligibility and voting criteria for the NASCAR Hall of Fame have not been announced. However, based on the Baseball Hall of Fame’s requirement of a 75 percent voting majority for induction, there would be four members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s inaugural class of inductees – Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson and Bill France Sr. – according to the stockcarhistoryonline.com survey. “We obviously have a couple more years to go before we see who goes in, but it would be an honor to go in with Bill France Sr., in the first class of inductees,” Petty said. “I wouldn’t have a problem with him being the only man in the first class because there wouldn’t be any of us without his vision for what he thought NASCAR could become. I’m just excited that the sport we all love has enjoyed enough longevity that we can build a first-class hall of fame for all of our fans.” Participants in the survey included competitors Richard and Kyle Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart, Michigan International Speedway President Roger Curtis, Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage, super fan Sandi Estep and media personalities Dr. Jerry Punch, Jay Adamcyk, Steve Waid, Randy Hallman, Monte Dutton, Rick Minter, Godwin Kelly, Marc Fein, Joe Menzer, Mark Aumann, Dick Conway, Duane Cross, Mike Fresina, Bryan Hallman, Mike Hembree, Jim Hunter, Jeff Owens, Dave Rodman, Jim Utter, David Poole and Houston. The only unanimous selection was Petty, who was listed by all 28 survey participants. Earnhardt was named by 25 of the hypothetical Hall of Fame voters, while Pearson and France each received 22 “votes.” “This has been a great project,” said stockcarhistoryonline.com Editor Rick Houston. “When you think NASCAR, you think Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson and Bill France Sr. That group takes on almost mythical proportions when it comes to the sport’s history – they’re the greatest of the greats. “We won’t know the actual first group of inductees for at least another year or so, but this group would be a pretty darn good starting point. There’s no argument whatsoever that any of these men DON’T belong in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The debate will be to see who should also be included.” Of those not making the cut, Junior Johnson and Lee Petty received the most support with a total of eight nominations each. Bill France Jr. was named by six of the hypothetical voters. Others nominated included Cale Yarborough (four votes); Bobby Allison (two votes); Harold Brasington (one); Red Byron (one); Clay Earles (one); Curtis Turner (one); Tim Flock (one); Jeff Gordon (two); Barney Hall (one); Fireball Roberts (one); Ralph Seagraves (two); Herb Thomas (twi); and Smokey Yunick (one). For more information, including a complete listing of each survey participant’s nominations, please visit stockcarhistoryonline.com.
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