The NASCAR Hall of Fame doesn't open till 2010.. but there are already discussions about who should be in the initial class.

I think this is pretty cool... I don't think any of us were alive or remember when the Baseball Hall of Fame opened in 1939, but at that point, MLB was 50 years old.. and there were literally 100's of players folks might have considered worthy. MLB decided to allow only 5 inductees each year (which continues to this day) and the first 5 inductees were: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson.

Pro Football took a different tact.. having 17 initial inductees. Perhaps its more fair to recognize everyone who is worthy for the initial induction, but I like how baseball did it better.. and I hope NASCAR does too.

Evidently this guy feels the same way.. he has written a great blog post on the subject:

goCESARgo.com - Who should be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame and how they should be selected

One of the big topics during this off season is the induction of individuals to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which opens in Spring of 2010. There have been debates left and right about who should be in the hall of fame. There are even debates now about who should select the inductees and what the selection process is. While I am not, by any means, qualified to make any of these decisions, I will present to you my suggestion for the induction process and my selections for the freshman class of inductees to the NASCAR Hall of Fame when it opens in March of 2010.

If you have an opinion, what do you think.. whom would you nominate and why ?

A hall of fame should be about the elite of the sport, to many halls have to many members. I like how baseball does it, a max of five, plus the veterans committee.

My five would be -

Bill France, Sr. - pretty obvioous, he started NASCAR
Richard Petty - most wins, tied for most championships
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. - tied for most championships, helped take NASCAR to another level
David Pearson - 105 wins, 3 championships
The fifth one is hard, it would be between Junior Johnson (50 wins as driver, 6 championships as an owner) and Dale Inman (won 8 championships as a crew cheif, seven with Petty). I would probably go with Junior.

A long shot would be Wendall Scott as the fifth person.

Obviously Bill France Sr. would be first.
2) Richard Petty
3) Junior Johnson as an owner/crew chief
4) Dale Earnhardt....obvious reasons
5) Ned Jarret 2 championships, left the sport on his own terms and has been a great ambassador for the sport and let's not forget, a true gentleman.


There are others like the Flocks and Curtis Turner as well as Fred lorenzen, Wendell Scott for breaking the color barrier etc.......Fireball Roberts and how about Bill Simpson for his life long pursuit of driver safety! Owner such as Bud Moore, Juney Donlavey.....man the list is long. There is so much history in NASCAR. The Allisons,Neil Bonnett and other members of the Alabama gang would be some choices. We could go on forever naming names and speculating and they'd all be great choices. It will be exciting to say the least when we get down to inducting the first class. Even good "Ol D.W. could make the class~!

Bill France Sr.
Richard Petty
Dale Earnhardt

I'd stop there the first year.. those 3 are on a different level then everyone else.

The next year.. I'd say David Pearson, Junior Johnson, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Harry Hyde and Rick Hendrick

I'd follow that with Buck Baker, Bobby Allison, Lee Petty, Bill France Jr., Richard Childress, John Holman and Ralph Moody.

Bill France Sr.
Richard Petty
Dale Earnhardt
Benny Parsons
and for the fifth one i personally have to say good ol D.W.

i would say...
1. Bill france sr.-started nascar
2. Richard petty- obviously
3. Dale E. Sr.-same reason
4.Carl Kiekhafefer-Most sucessfull multi car team owner (1955-1956.in 90 races 51 wins, 116 top 5's 138 top 10's)
5. Smokey Yunick-best innnovater(sp?) ever of racecars

1.Bill France Sr.
2.Carl Kiekhafefer
3.Glen "Fireball" Roberts
4."Smokey" Yunick
5.Bill France Jr.

1 DaleEarhardt
2 Junior Johnson
3 Richerd Petty
4 Harry Hyde
5 Ralgh Moody

Really pretty simple, at least to me.

Petty
Dale Sr.
Smokey Yunick
Junior Johnson
David Pearson.

The next year, take on the rest.

The above for various reasons are the ones who made the sport. I do not include France in the picture simply because he should be the namesake of this Hall of Fame.

have a good day,

schinde

Very true Mrvids, very true.

have a good day,

schinde

Definitely one of the best innovators of all time!!!!!!

1 BILL FRANCE SR. 2 JOHN MARCUM (FOUNDER OF ARCA) FOR NOT STEPPING ON FRANCE'S TOES 3 CARL KIEKHAEFER 4 RED BYRON 5 LEE PETTY

on point. x2

1. Bill France
2. Lee Petty
3. Fireball Roberts
4. Junior Johnson
5. David Pearson


I feel that the old guard of Nascar would deserve the initial nod into the hall, Fireball Roberts was a huge star in Nascar at the time of his death. Also the Flock brothers and Rex White should be considered.

I know thiis is subjective, but how do you leave out the winningest driver in the history of cup? 200 wins! I would think he would be at the top of all lists.

Ya know I reread all the posts and I myself forgot one man that I always was intersted in as a driver and that be "The Silver Fox" David Pearson. I know alot of you listed him. The thing that is interesting is, he has amassed 105 victories I believe and didn't always run full seasons! Can you imagine if he ran all the races through the seasons that he was an active driver? I somehow, and of course this is opinion, think that Pearson would be atop the all time win column! So, I would change my vote for Junior Johnson to David Pearson! If we were charged with the task of nominating the inductees it would be hard. There is alot of history to weed through.