Oh man, is there enough Kleenex in the world for when DW gets inducted? He's going to need a box every ten seconds.

I think these five would make a decent start as far as inductees go:

Richard Petty
David Pearson
Dale Earnhardt
Jeff Gordon
Bill France

You'd have the two greatest in there (Pearson and Petty),the guy that did pretty well in the 80s(three championships and a bunch of wins) and a guy that dominated the 90s,especially the latter half,and to top it off,the founder of the sport.

As far as this decade goes,Jimmie Johnson can wait a few more years. And Brian France doesn't deserve a spot in for screwing everything up.


Say what you want about Dick Trickle,while he didn't have success in NASCAR,he was a pretty good short track driver. One of two guys to win the ASA National Tour and ARTGO championships in the same year,and he did it twice,consecutively(1984 and 1985).

/stock car history guy here

If you don't induct Dale Sr. and DW in the same class, what's the point? One pushed the other to win, and collectively they had six championships and a gazillion wins in the 1980s. But you can only induct five, so DW is out.

Same with Petty and Pearson... you can't induct one without the other. But you can induct both because they're the only two drivers with over 100 wins (unless Gordon lights a fire up his ass and pulls off a few more victories to get to 100).

So Earnhardt, Pearson and Petty. Obviously the fourth choice is a no-brainer: Big Bill France. Again, what's the point of an inaugural HoF class without inducting the founder of the sport?

Fifth choice would have to be Junior Johnson. No man has contributed to the sport more than him. He was a damn good racer, and a damn good car owner.

Honorable Mention: Ernie Elliott. One man out of Dawsonville, GA, could flat drive cars. Another could flat build engines the likes of which only Roush, Hendrick and Gibbs have today.

Dale Earnhardt?!?!?! That guy was so bad he died in a race... Didn't even finish!

Be sure to read the privacy policy if you're going to vote at nascar.com. As much as I would like to vote, I don't think I could handle the barrage of spam mail this would set off.

T-Luv: Dale Earnhardt?!?!?! That guy was so bad he died in a race... Didn't even finish!

ahh damnit. too late to troll

My understanding is that Foyt isn't eligible because he is still involved in the sport. Only people that were retired or dead were eligible.

leisurejack: My understanding is that Foyt isn't eligible because he is still involved in the sport. Only people that were retired or dead were eligible.

Hate to burst your bubble, but Foyt hasn't been involved in NASCAR for about 3 years, and why would Richard Petty (whose driver literally just won 2 weeks ago) still be nominated? Unless you just meant retired as drivers, but then you would still be about 15 years late on Foyt, and only then if you count his run in the inaugural Brickyard 400 as his last race before "retirement".

Also, Hendrick is nominated, and if you keep up with NASCAR at all you'd know he sure as hell isn't retired.

No Tim Richmond?

If they'd had any balls, the first class would have been just Richard Petty by himself.

Problem is, there are so many NASCAR fans whose knowledge of the sport goes back only to 1993 or so, they'd cut otu many of the men who truly deserve to be in the HOF.

Some of these first nominees clearly could have waited until the next round.

Muta: No Rapid Roy? I call shenanigans.

That stock car boy is too much to believe.
He's always got a pack of cigarettes
rolled up in his tee shirt sleeve.

AWESOME. I salute you.

Calcasieu: No Tim Richmond?

The Bible Belt ain't exactly fans of those that die of AIDS.

I believe AJ isnt on the list because he only has 7 wins in 128 starts, granted his open wheel career was legendary theres others whove come into NASCAR on a limited basis and had great success (Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney come to mind)

As for the first class
The founder (Big Bill)
First Champion (Red Byron)
First Daytona 500 Winner (Lee Petty)
Possibly the sports greatest driver (Richard Petty or Dale Earnhardt or both)
And if needed i would say maybe Raymond Parks for being one of the first "teams" in NASCAR

Next year will be guys like Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, Glen Wood..etc

Richard Petty? Since when does selling Goodies powder get you in a hall of fame?

Don't forget his great TV spots for Ray's Kingburgers.

It's a North Carolina thing.

iamskibibitz: Calcasieu: No Tim Richmond?

The Bible Belt ain't exactly fans of those that die of AIDS.

But his AIDS came from farking female whores, so it's all cool.

baufan2005: Richard Petty? Since when does selling Goodies powder get you in a hall of fame?

..well, that and winning 200 races...

Calcasieu: No Tim Richmond?
iamskibibitz Nobody's The Bible Belt ain't exactly fans of those that die of AIDS. knowingly infect their partners
FTFY'all

/and yes, Tom Cruise's character in "Days Of Thunder was based on him...