Well, the inaugural Hall of Fame class was announced today and there were almost no surprises. And I almost had it picked out perfectly! I want to offer my congratulations to the five that did get in and each one of them is so deserving to be enshrined in this hub of NASCAR history. The first round of NASCAR legends will consist of Bill France Sr, Bill France Jr, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Junior Johnson. All of these men deserve to be in the hall at some point, but I still don't think that both Frances should have gotten in in the first class. Bill France Jr is hall worthy, but pioneers of the sport like Lee Petty, David Pearson and others were a lot more deserving than Bill Jr.
Lee Petty, as I said in my last post, won the inaugural Daytona 500 in a photo finish with Johnny Beauchampe, along with 51 other races, as well as three championships. He was, in a way, NASCAR's first superstar. David Pearson is second to Richard Petty on the all time wins list with 105, second on the all time poles list with 113 and winner of three championship titles. The "Silver Fox" also won the 1976 Daytona 500 after wrecking with his rival Richard Petty just feet from the start-finish line. The difference was that Pearson kept his foot in it and kept his wrecked #21 Purolator Ford running and drove past Petty's wrecked and stalled #43 STP Dodge to nab the win in the last few inches.
Drivers with those kinds of accomplishments, as well as the crew chiefs and mechanics who worked with them, such as Dale Inman and "Suitcase" Jake Elder, are a lot more deserving to go into the Hall of Fame before someone who was NASCAR's Chairman and CEO for thirty one years. Bill France Jr was going to get inducted at some point, but compared to someone like David Pearson, NASCAR's "Silver Fox" should have gotten it first. But, there is always next year. Who will be the next five inductees to receive this great honor? We'll just have to wait till next October to find out!
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