October 14, 2009 is a milestone date in NASCAR history with the announcement of the first five inductees.
Obviously, Bill France Sr, Richard Petty, Bill France Jr, and Dale Earnhardt were the expected first-class Hall of Fame inductees.
However, the fifth inductee was somewhat of mystery.
Junior Johnson is deserving of the honor, there is no denying that, but there are five or more candidates that were among the favorites to join the fabulous four.
If any of the names of Lee Petty, Red Byron, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, and Buck Baker just to name a few were announced, very few would have been shocked.
Lee Petty was the patriarch of perhaps the most prominent family in stock car history.
Red Byron was the first champion.
Pearson, Jarrett, Yarborough, Allison, Baker, and others won races and championships throughout their renowned careers.
Nevertheless, what separates Junior Johnson from afore mentioned drivers is the fact that he emerged as one of the most successful car owners the sport has ever known.
He possessed perhaps the most innovative mind in NASCAR when it came to detecting a competitive advantage.
The ingenuity that went into Johnson’s equipment made great drivers even greater.
For example, Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip were perennial frontrunners before they strapped into one of Johnson’s hot rods.
However, they did not win championships until after they began piloting the famed No. 11.
Junior Johnson’s teams were difficult to outclass, especially when they were at the summit of the sport.
Yarborough won three championships in a row from 1976 to 1978.
Waltrip won titles in 1981, 1982, and 1985; three titles in a span of five years.
Other drivers won in Junior Johnson equipment, such as Darel Dieringer, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Neil Bonnett, Terry Labonte, Geoff Bodine, Bill Elliott, and Jimmy Spencer.
Brett Bodine and Sterling Marlin also drove for Junior Johnson at some point in their careers.
As an owner, Junior Johnson can boast that he has beaten the likes of Petty Enterprises in their heyday, as well as the Wood Brothers. Before he left the sport in 1995, he often had the powerhouses of today such as Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Roush Racing in the rear view mirror.
Comments
There can be no doubt that Junior was very deserving of this. But let's face it. This deal was about those that made NASCAR a really big money maker and Junior brought R J Reynolds to NASCAR and there is total agreement in the racing world that they in turn catapaulted NASCAR to the top.
I think the real surprise was Bill France Jr. being inducted over David Pearson and others.
I can tell you one thing from me as a fan perspective. I never attended a race to see Bill France or Bill France Jr. But what the hell the France family owns the Hall of Fame don't they?
And what about the Joe Weatherl Museum at Darlington? Isn't that the original NASCAR Hall of Fame?
Nice comment Al. I wonder if future Hall inductees will include anyone from RJ Reynolds, like the late T. Wayne Robertson to be even put on the ballot. Or is NASCAR to "politically correct" to warrant the tobacco giant any past love?
I think there will be debate every year as they install people into the HOF. And that's fun. I can say, that putting two France's in there the first year is a bit much. The France's did a wonderfull job, don't get me wrong, however, they would of been nowhere if not for the drivers. France Jr should of been in next years, he was in fact handed the keys from Sr. No one has mentioned the two brothers, someone please help me here. The driver with the monkey in the race car. This is 30 years before I watched Nascar and was not even born yet. I beleive it was the Frock brothers?? But they were hugely poplular in the early to mid 60's. This is totally based on what I've read and seen on Speed Channel. Sorry if I got the name wrong, so just let us know. But from what everything I know they were huge in the Nascar world for the day. Or is that the guy that tried to start a drivers union and was kicked out of Nascar. Darn, I'm going to post anyway because I know someone will know
Al, your darn close concerning the museum. It was called the "Joe Weatherly Stock Car Museum" dedicated to Joe Weatherly who was killed in a race car in 1965. It was rebuilt in 2003 and rededicated "The Darlington Raceway Stock Car Musuem". In the back of that museum there is another museum called "NMPA Hall of Fame". That stands for "National Motorsports Press Association Hall Of Fame". Not Nascar Hall of Fame. But, Press Hall of Fame. Just though you might want to know. All Smiles.
I wonder at the HOF will there be a memorial or wall dedicated for all the drivers/pit crew members that have died from NASCAR racing? They've gave the ultimate price for their families, fans and the sport.
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