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NASCAR founder France leads first Hall class

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  • NASCAR founder France leads first Hall class

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. headlined the five inductees into the first class of the Hall of Fame, a group that drew mixed reactions to the inclusion of France's son instead of driver David Pearson.


    2009 NASCAR Hall of Fame

    Dale Earnhardt leads the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Here's a look:

    Dale Earnhardt
    • 76 Cup wins as a driver; 7 Cup championships

    Bill France, Sr.
    • NASCAR founder

    Bill France, Jr.
    • NASCAR president 1972-2000

    Junior Johnson
    • 50 wins as a driver; 6 championships as a car owner


    Richard Petty
    • 200 victories as a driver; 7 Cup championships

    France, who formed the National Association of Stock Car Racing in 1947, was the first inductee announced Wednesday in a ceremony that followed a lengthy voting session at the Charlotte Convention Center.

    Richard Petty, the seven-time Cup champion and NASCAR's all-time wins leader, was the second inductee revealed by current NASCAR chairman Brian France, who received the five envelopes one at a time from an independent accounting firm.

    Next up was Bill France Jr., son of the NASCAR founder who spent nearly 30 years at the helm of America's top motorsports series.

    "When I seen the two Frances was in, I knew I didn't have a chance," Pearson said moments after the ceremony ended.

    The final two nods instead went to Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR's other seven-time champion, and Junior Johnson, a former driver and car owner whose early days of running moonshine through backroads of North Carolina stands as a symbol of NASCAR's start.

    Pearson's exclusion surprised many, including Petty.

    Ushered into the ballroom moments after the inductees were announced, the King had to be told who had been selected with him for next May's induction ceremony.

    "That wouldn't have been my pick," he said.

    The differing opinions created a strange dynamic through the convention center, where 50 voters had gathered to debate the nominees before a secret ballot. As many of NASCAR's pioneers discussed the selections, six women clad in black dresses, dark sunglasses and fake Earnhardt-like mustaches distributed invitations to a celebratory reception hosted by Earnhardt's widow, Teresa.

  • #2
    1st HOF class and 2 of the 5 are the Frances I'm with Richard Petty and him saying "that wouldn't have been my pick".The Frances run the sport but the drivers made the sport.Heres my top 5:

    #1 Richard Petty-----------No doubt about it.He was the King
    #2 Dale Earnhardt-----the Intimidator took the sport to the level it is today
    #3 Junior Johnson------ old southern bootlegger runnin moonshine on the side is how he learned to drive. 50 wins as a driver and 6 Winston Cup Championships as an owner
    #4 and #5 Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough------these two guys really got people watching Nascar.1979 Daytona 500 was the first televised event and theres a snowstorm that has everyone snowed in there house up the east coast.On the last lap Cale and Bobby running first and second wreck each other in turn 3 and Richard Petty goes by and wins the race.Next thing you know the cameras are in turn 3 and theres Cale and Bobby slugging it out fighting like crazy in the grass.The rest is history.
    Last edited by vols fan; 10-15-2009, 11:38 AM.

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    • #3
      I agree with Bill France Sr 100%

      Without him, none of the names above exist because there is no Nascar without him. I would not have put France #2 in though. That is where i would have put Pearson IN!

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      • #4
        The 1st driver i would put in next year is Jeff Gordon. Whether you love him or hate him, his victories and titles speak for themself. He sits behind two guys named Petty & Dale Sr and that's it, two guys who were LOCKS and just went in. He also did it driving against those two guys and Nascar's popularity has never taken a bigger jump in any other time than the Jeff Gordon era. I'm not a big Gordon fan but he is one of the best 3 drivers EVER based on numbers. Nobody can deny that!

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        • #5
          We dont need a redneck politics thread here boys.



          I would put the Dukes of Hazzard in there


          Daisy Duke for sure
          NBA is a joke

          Comment


          • #6
            Wayne nice new avatar, I thought Boston sucks though?
            NBA is a joke

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by wayne1218 View Post
              I agree with Bill France Sr 100%

              Without him, none of the names above exist because there is no Nascar without him. I would not have put France #2 in though. That is where i would have put Pearson IN!
              Bill France Sr would be #1 on next year class IMO but your also right that he did createthe sport.Maybe the first class should have had 6 or 7.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by wayne1218 View Post
                The 1st driver i would put in next year is Jeff Gordon. Whether you love him or hate him, his victories and titles speak for themself. He sits behind two guys named Petty & Dale Sr and that's it, two guys who were LOCKS and just went in. He also did it driving against those two guys and Nascar's popularity has never taken a bigger jump in any other time than the Jeff Gordon era. I'm not a big Gordon fan but he is one of the best 3 drivers EVER based on numbers. Nobody can deny that!
                Gordon and Waltrip should be on the next list

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by flarendep1 View Post
                  Wayne nice new avatar, I thought Boston sucks though?
                  Your allowed to think whatever you want, just like me & cartman.

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                  • #10
                    Rick Hendrick and his (fixing to be) 9 championships ain't to many years out either

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by wayne1218 View Post
                      Your allowed to think whatever you want, just like me & cartman.

                      Even Cartman thinks Papelbaum sucks


                      Houston Street sucks worse
                      NBA is a joke

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                      • #12
                        BTW who votes on these HOF inductees??
                        NBA is a joke

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by vols fan View Post
                          Rick Hendrick and his (fixing to be) 9 championships ain't to many years out either
                          Agreed 100%

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                          • #14
                            Yea if Gordon goes in Ray Evernham better be right by his side!!!! Without Evernham Gordon would not have those Championships!!!

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by ***THA FIX*** View Post
                              Yea if Gordon goes in Ray Evernham better be right by his side!!!! Without Evernham Gordon would not have those Championships!!!
                              Shouldn't we say that about Dale Sr and Childress too than?

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