NASCAR Hall of Fame: Bold Picks for Nomination to Class of 2012
It was a long time coming, but now there is a place where within the hallowed halls drivers, crew chiefs, owners and others who have made a significant impact on the sport of NASCAR can be honored.
In 2010 the first class of inductees was honored at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC. Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Dale Earnhardt Sr., Richard Petty and Junior Johnson made up that class.
This past May, the 2011 class of inductees consisting of Lee Petty, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Bobby Allison and Bud Moore found a place of honor in the HOF.
Just as we wrap up the ceremonies associated with the second class, the voting will take place on June 14, and the third group of nominees for the 2012 class will be announced.
Those chosen will take their place in the Hall of Fame this coming January.
Each year there is a list of 25 names presented as nominees, five of which are new names. A panel of 20 consisting of NASCAR officials, Hall of Fame representatives and track owners make the nominations.
The voting is done with 48 votes consisting of the nominating committee, 14 media members, a representative from Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota and Dodge, three retired drivers, three retired owners, three retired crew chiefs and a vote from the fans.
With the name of five individuals on the line as the voting time approaches, there is always controversy over the people who may have been over-looked and the ones who will be announced as nominees.
Perhaps you have your favorites that belong in the third class of inductees at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The following are the five men who just may be the ones who make up those to be honored in 2012. See if you agree, and don't hesitate to disagree and say why.
Update: On Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Brian France announced the following Inductees to the 2012 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame: Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Inman, Richie Evans and Glen Wood.
1. Raymond Parks
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Like many who became involved in NASCAR, north Georgia native, Raymond Parks ran some moonshine, which cost him time in Federal accommodations.
He then became a legitimate businessman who fought in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII. Parks was one of a group of men who met at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach to form NASCAR during 1947.
Parks also fielded a car for Red Byron who won the first NASCAR Cup (Strictly Stock) title during the inaugural season in 1949. Curtis Turner and Fonty Flock were also known to have driven for him.
Sadly, Parks died at the age of 96 in June of 2010. The Georgia gentleman who had a significant impact on the sport of NASCAR was able to make an appearance when the NASCAR Hall of Fame opened.
Perhaps in 2012 he will have his permanent place of honor in the HOF.
2. Darrell Waltrip
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Darrell Waltrip is hardly one to mince words and has been vocal about his future place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Some may think it is too early for this former driver to secure a place in the HOF, but with Bobby Allison having been inducted in the 2011 class, Waltrip is a given for 2012.
Waltrip ran his first Cup race in 1972 and then went on to win 84 races and three series championships in 1981, 1982 and 1985.
This driver was one of the first total package drivers with not only driving talent, but ability to attract sponsors. He represented the sport well, had the good looks and was well-spoken.
Waltrip won in many other series and has garnered recognitions too numerous to mention. He drove his final race in 2000 and became a television commentator and analyst for NASCAR with Fox Sports.
There is little doubt that Waltrip is a great spokesperson for the sport of NASCAR, though he has been known to make some controversial statements.
He is one of the sport's most popular drivers, and 2012 will be his year to find a place of honor in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
3. Cale Yarborough
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South Carolina native, Cale Yarborough, was the first NASCAR Winston Cup (Sprint Cup) driver to win three consecutive titles in 1976, 1977 and 1978.
Jimmie Johnson then matched his record and went on to win five consecutive Cup titles.
Yarborough ran his first race in the top-tier of NASCAR at Darlington in 1957. He went on to win 83 races in the Cup series.
This tough competitor drove for some of the top teams and was a team owner himself late in his NASCAR career.
Though Yarborough has not been a highly visible spokesperson for NASCAR like Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and others, he has certainly proven he is worthy of a place of honor at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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4. Dale Inman
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Dale Inman is best known as the crew chief for Petty Enterprises. He led the team to seven NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup (Sprint Cup) championships in 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1979.
Inman was the guiding hand for 198 Cup wins by Richard Petty. He won one other Cup series title in 1984 with Terry Labonte and car owner Billy Hagan.
Without a doubt, it is time for Inman to take his place in the 2012 class at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, being that Richard Petty and Lee Petty already have that honor.
5. H. Clay Earles
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H. Clay Earles was a visionary who knew if he built it, they would come before NASCAR tracks existed. He carved a half-mile track out of the Virginia clay.
In 1947 he opened Martinsville Speedway with seating for 750, but 6,000 fans showed up to watch cars race.
NASCAR was formed and they hosted the sixth race of the season at the Martinsville track in 1949.
The action-packed track was paved in 1955 and has continued to improve over the years to a facility that currently seats more than 60,000.
The .526 mile track currently has one of the best garage areas, care center and media facilities in the sport according to the speedway website. The hot dogs sold at Martinsville are legendary.
Earles was always the consummate promoter who wanted his fans to get the best bang for their hard-earned money.
Though Earles is no longer with us, the track still runs the show just as he would have wanted under the guidance of his grandson, W. Clay Campbell and International Speedway Corporation, who purchased the track in 2004.
This man was ahead of his time when he dug out that half-mile track with minimal funds and now is the time to recognize him in the 2012 class at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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