NASCAR Hall of Fame Attendees Comment on Emotional Day

NASCAR finally has a Hall of Fame in a beautiful building. Yet, the magnificent Sunday ceremony, inducting the first five members, seemed larger than any structure.

The spacious auditorium where the televised program took place accommodated family members of the inductees and many NASCAR luminaries, too.

The emotions generated by their formal statements and tender stories during the long, decorated process swirled among groups and radiated through the broadcast. 

Such powerful emotions weren’t anticipated by many attendees. Select comments from many notables during post-induction press conferences tell the tale.

The 2010 First Class of Inductees

Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Dale Earnhardt

Attendees

Junior Johnson, Robert Johnson, Dale Inman, Richard Petty, Teresa Earnhardt, Kerry Earnhardt, Kelley Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Taylor Earnhardt , Brian France, Lesa France Kennedy

About the Big Day

Richard Petty

“No matter when the drivers come through now or crew chiefs, owners, promoters, whatever,” Petty said. “If they won 14 championships in 500 races, they're still going to have to have Hall of Fame beside their name to end their career. So I think it kind of hit me today that it's really, really a big deal, because NASCAR's finally got their Hall of Fame." 

“Now I think we're as big a league as anybody, I'll put it that way.”

Dale Inman (crew chief for Richard Petty)

“It was a big day, a long day, and it was kind of like being in a church play when you was young or a high school play,” Inman said. “You didn't know what was going on. Because it's been going on for a couple of weeks, you know? And then finally when they put it all together, it was great. And it was actually, got my attention a lot more than what I thought it would.”

Robert Johnson (son of Junior Johnson)

“I was probably the most nervous I've ever been in my life, but I pulled it through,” Johnson said. “It was great to induct dad, give him the ring. He gave it right back to me afterwards.” 

Junior Johnson

“It couldn't have been a better day for me; Robert inducting me into the Hall of Fame,” Johnson said. “A father's dream, basically. This thing was a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be from the get-go.”

About Family In NASCAR

Junior Johnson

“Racing has always been a family,” Johnson said. “You take Richard, his whole family run his race team, and most of them was uncles and cousins and all that stuff. But this is a family sport. And you'll see everybody out there most of the time with his family.”

Richard Petty

“Like a farmer's son becoming a farmer,” Petty said. “We sort of hung around the race course. You're all family. We're all in this together, whether we like it or not, to make it work. Probably racing is probably noted more for family involvement than any other sport.”

About Having a Son Induct Them into the Hall of Fame

Junior Johnson

“A lot of people would think a son, 16 years old,” Johnson said. “Robert's a very mature person for his age. I think you made a wise choice of getting him to induct me.
Not only that, I done give him my ring. So he doesn't have to go into the Hall of Fame, he's got one.”

Richard Petty

“And to have your son introduce you to something like this, it's just unreal,” Petty said. “He introduced me into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He's in my Hall of Fame, I'll put it that way, just because of the way he handles himself in those situations and stuff.
The deal is just the father being proud of their son. He's in my Hall of Fame.”

It Was a Big Day For the Earnhardt Family

Teresa Earnhardt (wife of Dale Earnhardt)

“It's a privilege for us to be here,” Earnhardt said. “It's great to be able to be here and know what's being done here in such a big way. It's a proud moment.”

Taylor Earnhardt (daughter of Dale Earnhardt)

“I thought it was great how all four of us just got out there and talked,” Earnhardt said. “Got to kind of hear different sides of dad from the four of us. It's not something that happens all at one time.” 

Kerry Earnhardt (son of Dale Earnhardt)

“I think it's a great honor for us to be involved with this,” Earnhardt said. “And for the fans to be able to come in and learn more about the stories and the Hall of Fame and all the exhibits that they had all the inductees and learn more about what our sport has came to.”

Kelley Earnhardt (daughter of Dale Earnhardt)

“You can't hardly explain in this short simple time what it all means to us,” Earnhardt said. “It was an honor to have all of our family here today and my Grandmother Earnhardt, and for us to accept the award together.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (son of Dale Earnhardt)

“I was happy for Dad,” Earnhardt said. “I enjoyed the inductees and their stories and everybody that was on stage. It was interesting to listen to each one of them.” 

Kelley Earnhardt

“The room was full of emotion,” Earnhardt said. “And it's no different for us when you talk about someone you miss and left us too soon. We all have very strong emotions about that. Good and fond memories about it.”

Kerry Earnhardt

“It came from the heart from all of us,” Earnhardt said. “It can't mean the same as what it is when it comes from the heart.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“It was nice,” Earnhardt said. “I got up there and said whatever I wanted to say. 
the atmosphere was really, really good. And the program went so smoothly, it was really no effort at all. There was really no nerves at all.”

The France Family Had a Very Proud Day in Many Ways

Lesa France Kennedy

“Today was absolutely wonderful to see everyone come together and recognize what these five great men have done for the sport of NASCAR,” France Kennedy said. “It will be one of the most special days for me personally in my memories.

“The thing that really touched me the most is the statue of my father. And it is personal. But him on the director's chair, just like he would always be, outside of that NASCAR hauler, the likeness of it is amazing. And it was just my dad.”

Brian France

“I think everybody said it, and I'll say it again,” France said. “It was an emotional day. I didn't anticipate that.

“I made light when I went up there today that I had been fired more times than anybody who has worked in NASCAR. Which is probably true. You don't ever feel entitled, despite opportunities that are provided for you.

“Don't forget the motto of my grandfather and father that everybody has to win. At some point, financially, and otherwise, it's got to be a level playing field. If we keep doing that, taking care of our fans, we'll be fine.”

The Last Words Go to The King

Richard Petty

“You have to figure how much bigger NASCAR is today than what it was when Big Bill was a single NASCAR,” Petty said. NASCAR is such a big business today that it can't be run by an individual on a day-to-day basis. The biggest decisions might have to be made by an individual. But there's no individual.

“When Bill, Jr. come along, it was maybe a quarter as big as it is today. But then he took it and expanded it, expanded it. And then it just takes more people to run a bigger business, basically.” 

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com