NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominees: Richard Petty, David Pearson, and...?

6.   Any other “others”?

Drivers (not necessarily in order):

1.  Richard Petty.

2.  David Pearson. My all-time favorite.

3.  Curtis Turner. Turner drove in 183 Cup races in 17 years [1949 to 1968] with 17 wins, 54 Top Fives, and 73 top tens. Add to that four years of the Convertible series [1956-59] with 79 races run, 38 races won, with 50 Top Fives and 53 Top 10’s. These stats don’t tell it all, as Turner was one of the most talented drivers ever, and what he did off the track, although that would have nothing to do with an HoF entry, certainly made the early years of NASCAR more interesting for all involved!

4.  Joe Weatherly. More than just a hell-raising buddy of Curtis Turner; or the Clown Prince of Racing; Weatherly won two Cup Championships [after winning championships on motorcycles], with 25 wins out of 225 races run from 1952-63, and 18 poles. Weatherly competed in first five races in 1964, but died in his accident at Riverside. Weatherly also had 12 wins in 96 races and 18 poles in the four years of the Convertible Series. Weatherly’s death showed NASCAR and all the competitors that the shoulder harness should be used with lap belts.

5.  Bobby Allison. For some reason, NASCAR refuses to credit Allison with a win, while winners under the same circumstances are given credit for a Cup win. Allison has 85 wins if the same criteria used for other drivers are used for all of Allison’s Cup wins.

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