Hall of Fame Got Inaugural Class Right

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR executives and racing royalty filled a ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center Wednesday afternoon. David Pearson, Cotton Owens, Ned Jarrett, Bruton Smith, Glen and Eddie Wood and Ricky Rudd were among stock car's dignitaries on hand, eager to hear the inaugural five-person NASCAR Hall of Fame class.

The room went totally silent when NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter took the stage to introduce chairman Brian France. And in an eight-minute ceremony carried on live television, France opened sealed envelopes announcing one-by-one that his grandfather, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.; the sport's all-time winningest driver, Richard Petty; Brian France's father, Bill France Jr.; the late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt; and champion driver and owner Junior Johnson will go down as the first to be in enshrined when the Hall opens next May.

The inclusion of France Sr., Petty and Earnhardt was a given, it was the final two selections that created an air of suspense.

"It was a spirited debate for sure,'' said Dusty Brandel, one of the 50 members of the voting panel, who confirmed a nearly two-hour, closed-door discussion before the vote Wednesday morning.

There was plenty of spirited debate after the vote was announced too. And more coming.

"You can draw any five out of a hat and then draw five more and they'd all be deserving,'' said Johnson, a nominee and member of the diverse voting committee.

And Johnson's absolutely right. But this initial five-person class will be debated until the second five-person class is announced next year.

Earnhardt's selection was the only one to receive loud cheers from the audience.

Even Petty second-guessed the list, suggesting among others that his father Lee Petty, who won the very first Daytona 500, probably deserved to be in the Hall of Fame more than himself.

"When I first saw the names, I made my own list and David Pearson was my number one pick,'' said Petty, who earned 200 victories and seven championships in his racing career.

"Anyone (Pearson) who won 105 races and didn't make the cut? Someone's not adding right, that's my opinion.''

Many in the audience agreed with Petty and several voting committee members confirmed that the discussions focused on the final two spots and whether it should be France Jr., Johnson or Pearson.

Pearson, who won 105 races and three Cup championships, was gracious after the announcement, but left immediately afterward to give legendary engine builder Cotton Owens a ride home.

"That's all right,'' Pearson said, of not being selected. "I'm happy.

"Disappointed? Not really. I always heard they were going to put Junior (Johnson) in there. And Earnhardt and Petty had to be in there, so when I seen the two Frances went in there I knew I didn't have a chance.''

For what it's worth, NASCAR said the next three top vote-getters of the 25 nominees for the first Hall class were Pearson, Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison.

The 670,000 fans who voted online counted as one single ballot of five drivers and they chose -- Petty, Earnhardt, France Sr., Yarborough and Allison as their top five.

Johnson, who had back surgery six weeks ago, participated in the morning deliberation and vote, but left to rest his back and wasn't even there to hear his selection announced.

He said later that this was "the greatest thing that's happened to me in the sport.''

"You just don't know how it feels to be one of the five people selected to go into this first class,'' said Johnson, who won 50 races as a driver, 132 wins and six titles as an owner. "It's so big and it's so honorable.''

Earnhardt's widow, Teresa, who is part-owner of the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Sprint Cup team, spoke to reporters briefly and posed for a photograph outside the conference hall with five models hired from a local agency -- all wearing fake moustaches and mirrored sunglasses -- a nod to the late Earnhardt's signature look.



"Of the many legendary accomplishments and accolades of his career. ... this is another defining moment,'' Teresa Earnhardt said. "It is the achievement of a lifetime and is celebrated by the millions of Dale Earnhardt fans around the world."

Even France acknowledged he was surprised that both his grandfather and father were in the inaugural class.

"There was a lot of discussion about two France family members in the same year, so I was surprised but very, very proud,'' France said.

He should be. The voters got this right.

This inaugural class should be about those with the greatest contributions to the foundation and flourish of this sport.

Bill France Sr. started it all. His son Bill France Sr. guided it into the next era.

Johnson, Petty and Earnhardt the best of their times -- the best of all time.

How can you argue that?