NASCAR Hall Of Fame

NASCAR:

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr.
NASCAR is the largest sanctioning body of stock car racing in the United States.
The three largest racing series sanctioned by NASCAR are the Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series.

It also oversees NASCAR Local Racing, the Whelen Modified Tour, and the Whelen All-American Series. NASCAR sanctions over 1,500 races at over 100 tracks in 39 states, Canada, and Mexico. NASCAR has presented exhibition races in Suzuka City, Japan, Motegi City, Japan, and Melbourne, Australia.

NASCAR's headquarters are located in Daytona Beach, Florida, although it also maintains offices in four North Carolina cities: Charlotte, Mooresville, Concord, and Conover. Regional offices are also located in New York City, Los Angeles, Bentonville, Arkansas, and international offices in Mexico City and Toronto. Additionally, owing to its southern roots, all but a handful of NASCAR teams are still based in North Carolina, especially near Charlotte.

In October 2000, the Time Warner Company, Turner Sports Interactive, acquired all of NASCAR's interactive rights and the rights to the nascar.com domain. As of January 2001, Turner Sports Interactive is the exclusive producer, and NASCAR.com is the official site for NASCAR Inc. The NASCAR.COM staff is located in Atlanta, with additional personnel in Charlotte and Daytona Beach. The NASCAR.com domain is currently leased through Network Solutions, and extends through the year 2016.

NASCAR is one of the most viewed professional sports in terms of television ratings in the United States. In fact, professional football is the only sport in the United States to hold more viewers than NASCAR.

NASCAR races are broadcast in over 150 countries. NASCAR holds 17 of the top 20 attended single-day sporting events in the world, and claims 75 million fans who purchase over $3 billion in annual licensed product sales. Many marketers consider NASCAR fans the most brand-loyal in all of sports and as a result, Fortune 500 companies sponsor NASCAR more than any other Motor Sport

Why Charlotte?

Because of stock car racing's roots in and wealth of famous drivers from North Carolina, many NASCAR offices in the area and many teams in the three major series NASCAR competes in (Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series) totaling over 73% of motorsports employees in the United States working in what the committee called "NASCAR Valley", Charlotte was considered the favorite by many fans and commentators.

The proposed site is in Uptown Charlotte, one half hour south of Lowe's Motor Speedway. Another factor that helped in the winning bid was the fact that over half of the total population of the USA was living within a 500-mile (800 km) radius of the greater Charlotte region.

The bid was led by NASCAR car owner Rick Hendrick, Mayor Pat McCrory, and business leaders in Charlotte. Pei Cobb Freed & Partners were enlisted for the complex's design, which will be located near the Charlotte Convention Center. An expansion, which includes a new ballroom, is also part of the project.

While most information on the Charlotte bid has been released voluntarily, the Charlotte Observer has asked the state Attorney General for an opinion requiring full disclosure of the financial details.
The self-proclaimed slogan used by Charlotte for the Hall of Fame is "Racing Was Built Here. Racing Belongs Here."

Other final candidates:

The other two cities at the time of the announcement that were in the running were Atlanta, Georgia and Daytona Beach, Florida.

Atlanta:

NASCAR legend Bill Elliott had campaigned for Atlanta to be the NASCAR HOF site, which would have been adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park. Atlanta's argument was that with the World of Coca-Cola, CNN Center, the Georgia Aquarium and the Children's Museum of Atlanta nearby, more visitors would come to town to visit the city. However, legal issues surrounding the secret bid and the Georgia Open Records Act arose after a request from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for the cost of the proposal. At least $25 million (US) in state money plus an extra $5 million from Atlanta and Fulton County taxpayers would have been committed to the project.

Other bids:

The state of Alabama had also been mentioned as a potential candidate city, and was no longer seen as a contender, possibly because Talladega currently is home to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, which is not affiliated with NASCAR.
The only northern area that considered bidding was in the state of Michigan. Detroit prepared bids, but state officials decided not to submit the proposals. The cities of Richmond, Virginia and Kansas City, Kansas were actually among the five finalists, but on January 5, 2006, NASCAR announced they had been eliminated from the running, leaving just Daytona, Atlanta and Charlotte as the remaining cities.

Eligibility and selection process:

Eligibility:

Former drivers must have been active in NASCAR for at least 10 years, and retired for at least three. Non-drivers must have been involved in the industry at least ten years. Some candidates with shorter careers will be considered if there were special circumstances.
Selection process:

Nomination:

A 20-member nominating committee chooses nominees from those who are eligible. The committee consists of:
Seven NASCAR representatives;
NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley;
NASCAR Hall of Fame Historian;
Track owners (Two each from International Speedway Corporation and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated, the Hulman family representing Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the owners of Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway)
Four track owners from historic short tracks: Bowman-Gray Speedway in Winston-Salem, N.C.; Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C.; Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead, N.Y; and Toyota Speedway at Irwindale in Irwindale, CA.

Induction:
After the nomination committee selects the list of candidates, a total of 48 votes are cast by a voting committee, which consists of the nominating committee and the following:
14 media representatives: Three each from the National Motorsports Press Association, the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Eastern Motorsports Press Association; one each from current media rights holders Fox, Turner Sports (TNT), ESPN/ABC, Motor Racing Network and Performance Racing Network;
One representative each from the current manufacturers - Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota;
Three retired drivers;
Three retired owners;
Three retired crew chiefs;
One ballot which will represent the results of a nationwide fan vote.

Charter Class: Class of 2010:

On October 14th, 2009, the NASCAR Hall of Fame panel met at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, to select the Charter Class of 2010.

The five who were selected were:

Bill France, Sr., NASCAR founder and promoter;
Bill France, Jr., promoter who succeeded his father and expanded the sport to national exposure;
Dale Earnhardt, owner-driver and seven time drivers champion;
Richard Petty, owner-driver who also won seven championships and 200 races as an driver.
Junior Johnson, owner-driver who won six championships as an owner;

The remaining finalists who did not garner the top five positions were:

Bobby Allison, driver
Buck Baker, driver
Red Byron, driver
Richard Childress, owner-driver
Richie Evans, driver
Tim Flock, driver
Rick Hendrick, owner
Ned Jarrett, driver and broadcaster
Bud Moore, owner
Raymond Parks, owner
Benny Parsons, driver, promoter and broadcaster
David Pearson, driver
Lee Petty, owner-driver
Fireball Roberts, driver
Herb Thomas, driver
Curtis Turner, driver
Darrell Waltrip, driver and broadcaster
Joe Weatherly, driver
Glen Wood, owner
Cale Yarborough, driver

Bill France, Sr.
NASCAR founder

Known as "Big Bill," France is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of American Motorsports.

Began as a promoter of beach races in Daytona Beach, Fla., and was the driving force behind the establishment of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. His iron fist leadership was challenged just once, in 1969, when NASCAR's top drivers pushed France to postpone the race at Talladega Superspeedway over tire concerns. France didn't budge and survived the driver walkout by finding 36 others to race.
Turned over control to his son, Bill France, Jr., in 1972. Died in 1992 at the age of 82.

"It comes as no surprise that William H.G. France is a member of the inaugural five-man class in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

He is NASCAR's founder. Without the man called "Big Bill," stock-car racing as we know it might not exist.

It was France who had the vision and ambition to turn a rogue sport into one that found credibility, stability, organization and acceptance.

He was always interested in racing. He built his first race car at age 17. As a young married man he raced on the dirt tracks around his Washington, D.C., home. Prior to World War II he even promoted some races.

Afterward, France, his wife, Annie, and young son Billy, packed all their belongings into a car and headed for Miami looking for better financial pursuits.

Naturally, France the racer wanted to make a stop in the Ormond Beach-Daytona Beach area to see the "World's Most Famous Beach," on which automobile land speed records had been set by Sir Malcolm Campbell and others.

The Frances never left the area."

By Steve Waid
SceneDaily.com

Bill France, Jr.
NASCAR president 1972-2000
"Bill Jr." replaced his father as NASCAR president in 1972 and spent the next 28 years helping NASCAR become America's No. 1 form of motorsports. His leadership was viewed as a benevolent dictatorship, where France had the final word.
He stepped down as president in 2000 during a fight with cancer but ruled as chairman of a new board of directors until 2003, when he transferred control to son, Brian.
Died in 2007 at the age of 74.
.
NASCAR president 1972-2000
"Bill Jr." replaced his father as NASCAR president in 1972 and spent the next 28 years helping NASCAR become America's No. 1 form of motorsports. His leadership was viewed as a benevolent dictatorship, where France had the final word.
He stepped down as president in 2000 during a fight with cancer but ruled as chairman of a new board of directors until 2003, when he transferred control to son, Brian.
Died in 2007 at the age of 74.

Bill France Jr. Expanded Father's Vision into National Entity:

It's fitting that Bill France Jr. joins his father in the first class selected for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

After all, both were instrumental in building NASCAR to its current prominence in the sports world, though each did so in different ways.

While Bill France Sr. built NASCAR's foundation from the sands of the Daytona Beach, Fla., road course, his son took it to another level.

France Jr. was a visionary, a man who saw the potential for stock-car racing to gain in prominence and grab a foothold in the national sports landscape. Words like pioneer and legend cropped up surrounding his name over the years. Why? Because he believed the sport could challenge other professional sports in audience and fan base - and proved that he was correct.

He took over management of NASCAR in 1972 and led the sport through what turned out to be arguably the most influential period in its growth. Like his father, he was willing to take the heat for making tough calls. But he made those with the big picture in mind - and turned what had been a largely regional sport into a major national entity.

In some ways, it started when a smart business decision combined with a stroke of luck.

He put the 1979 Daytona 500 on CBS, the first broadcast of a full, live race on a major television network. That race gained additional exposure when a massive snowstorm essentially locked in the East Coast, increasing viewership. Then it was further aided by a fight. Richard Petty won the race, but Cale Yarborough's fight with the Allison brothers - Bobby and Donnie - became the source of controversy and publicity.

That helped push the sport to a new level and into a realm of popularity that France was able to capitalize on with landmark television contracts and an explosion in fan base.

France could be famously firm in his dealings with people. Yet he had the ability to draw the admiration and respect of those competing in and building the sport while also keeping them in line with his directives. He kept a firm grip on the sport while also accepting input from others.

The sport took off in the 1980s and '90s, a period when it became a television staple, when he guided International Speedway Corp.'s growth and addition of new tracks and a period in which the Cup drivers debuted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

France turned NASCAR over to President Mike Helton in 2000 but remained active in the organization until his death in 2007 at the age of 74.

Upon his death, both those who had helped him build the sport and those who were reaping the benefits of it were quick to credit France for all his work in building NASCAR.

"Mr. France was the backbone of our sport," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., who knew France in a unique light because of the relationship France shared with the driver's father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. "He was a true friend to the Earnhardt family and someone I always looked up to."

It was a sentiment universally shared in the sport.

Now, France's work has been recognized by others who helped build the sport with his selection to the inaugural class of the new NASCAR Hall of Fame. It's only fitting that he resides in its halls next to his father.

Courtesy:
Rea White, associate editor for SceneDaily.com

Richard Petty:

200 victories as a driver; 7 Cup championships:

The King holds the record for most wins (200), most poles (123), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) and most starts (1,185). His seven Cup titles is tied with Dale Earnhardt for most in NASCAR history. Retired in 1992 but is still an at-track presence as a team owner.
Petty Enterprises won 268 races before its January merger with Gillett Evernham Motorsports, and Petty has two wins this season as co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports.

Richard Petty in the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame?

"There probably have been bigger no-brainers in the history of sports, but not many".

Petty won 200 races. He won them from the high banks of Daytona to the dreary dirt of forgotten quarter-mile tracks now lost to history.

He won seven Cup championships.

He made the number 43 and the official color of "Petty blue" important not only in racing but also in American sports in general.

19 is Johnny Unitas.

9 is Ted Williams.

42 is Jackie Robinson.

43 is, and forever will be, Richard Petty.

Petty is about much more than the numbers, the victories and the championships, however.

By Mike Hembree

Dale Earnhardt:

76 Cup wins as a driver; 7 Cup championships
The Intimidator made his black No. 3 a larger-than-life symbol in NASCAR with an aggressive driving style that rattled competitors and enamored fans.

Shares the record for most Cup series championships (seven) with Richard Petty. Won his first title in 1980, his second full season. Won the 1998 Daytona 500. Died in an accident on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

Dale Earnhardt Drew Love and Ire of Fans in Legendary Career:

It was getting late on Saturday night at Bristol and the crowd had already whipped itself into a frenzy.

Terry Labonte had eased into the lead and appeared to be on his way to another short-track victory. But all eyes were on one car and one man - the black No. 3 driven by Dale Earnhardt.

Old "Ironhead" had been downright bull-headed on this night, pushing and shoving his way to the front on more than one occasion. Now he was morphing into his other personality - "The Intimidator" - and the crowd could sense it.

Labonte appeared to have the checkered flag in sight, but Earnhardt's menacing black No. 3 was bearing down on him fast.

As Labonte took the white flag, the crowd rose to its feet. More than 150,000 fans knew what was coming. They had seen it before.

By Jeff Owens
SceneDaily.com

Junior Johnson:

50 wins as a driver; 6 championships as a car owner
Johnson is in an elite group of participants to find success as a driver and car owner. He won the second Daytona 500 in 1960 and was credited with discovering drafting at superspeedways. Retired in 1966 after just 14 seasons as a driver to become a team owner.

Won 132 races as owner, and championships with Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip. Began as a moonshine runner, forever making him the symbol of NASCAR's roots.

When he was 14 years old, Junior Johnson became a moonshine hauler.

He owned a car -- registered in his sister's name -- and despite the fact that he didn't have a driver's license, he figured it was time to go about the family business.

His father, Robert Glenn Johnson Sr., was one of the most notorious and prolific bootleggers in Wilkes County, N.C. The number of stills he had in operation could not easily be counted.

He also had a farm and a sawmill, but it was moonshine that provided, by far, the bulk of the family income.

Homemade whiskey is worth nothing unless it is delivered to a buyer. That's where the haulers came in.

They had to drive hard and fast on small dirt country roads, almost always at night, to complete their appointed rounds.

The law routinely chased them, and to be caught meant confiscation of the car, the whiskey and, worst of all, jail time.
Junior Johnson was never caught on the road.

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