The NASCAR Hall of Fame voting panel, consisting of 50 members. (Getty Images)
Wednesday NASCAR announced the first five inductees into the new Hall of Fame scheduled to open in 2010. The first five -- Bill France Sr. and France Jr. along with Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Junior Johnson -- will be officially inducted in May of next year.
Bill France Sr. was an obvious choice as was Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. But to many Junior Johnson and Bill France Jr. were somewhat surprise inductees in the first class.
The first class was chosen from a list of 25 people who were nominated earlier this year. A combination of NASCAR executives, 14 journalists, four auto manufacturers representatives and nine retired competitors three former drivers, three crew chiefs and three owners for a total of 50 debated the list then voted for the first five. A fan vote was also included.
Among the surprises as reported by veteran journalist Jim Pedley, who was among the 14 media members, was that the vote seemed to be divided among those who wanted to vote based on the person's standing as a pioneer of the sport, while others felt it should be along the lines of popularity. Another surprise was NASCAR CEO Brian France who led a contingent of members against his father Bill France Jr. being inducted into the first class. France felt like most did that his grandfather Bill France Sr. was a shoe-in, but his father should be inducted in a later class in order to make room for another driver.
In the end as so often happens when democracy works, five choices were made and the first class was named.
No doubt shortly after in offices, homes, and bars, the debates began. Where the first five the right five? Should others on the list have made it into the Hall before those who were picked? Those debates will rage for the next four years until the original list, now down to 20, has run its course while more are added.
While no one can be for certain who will make up the second and subsequent classes, one thing is for certain. The citizens of the NASCAR Nation will soon have a place to all their own. No longer will NASCAR just be spread among the dozens of tracks across the nation and the myriad of race shops primarily found in North Carolina. Like fans of baseball, football and basketball now, NASCAR will soon have their own central location that fans can call home.
So let the debates begin. Soon we can argue till we’re blue in the face while we stand in the lobby of a modern state-of-the-art facility where all of us can go to celebrate the sport we love together. I can’t wait.
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