I got my first taste of auto racing in the summer of 1954, I was 10 years old. My dad owned a jalopy and my uncle Flip (honest to God that was what everyone called him) drove the car on dirt bull-rings in western Michigan. Flip put me on his lap a few times and took me around the track in early practice (rules were pretty lax back then). The excitement, the smells of gas and oil, the dirt, the heat, the sound of the engine and seeing the crowd from the seat of the car - it's embedded in my brain forever. I cherish those memories.
Those driver's were rough old hoots; flimsy little helmets, coveralls and street shoes - throw in a cigarette or cigar while driving, maybe even a "take" or two of some moonshine in between races. That was, as they call it, "Back in the day."
So, just who should be next? What five should be rewarded? For me, being totally honest, I don't know. I really don't. Of the nominees, there is a bunch I have no memory of; but to say they don't deserve to be inducted would be grave error on my part. To do it right, for me to judge, I would have to go back and research each and every individual, all 25 of them - and especially the ones I don't recognize. I'm not going to do that.
Of the five new nominees I would not include Rusty Wallace. Ralph Seagraves, Ray Fox and others I don't remember (and haven't Google'd them to pretend like I do). As far as Rusty is concerned, it's not that I don't think he's worthy of the Hall of Fame - it's that I don't believe it's his time yet. Surely, his day will come.
My choices probably aren't fair; they're based on ones I "cheered" for, ones I came to know (well, not personally) and in a way loved, as a racing fan does. You know what I mean, right? I'm going with those I remember, old ones and maybe a toss of someone of newer era.
Benny Parsons - damn, I loved Benny in and out of the car. And what he brought to the broadcast booth will never be repeated.
Leonard Wood - this man, this team, The Wood Brothers, placed a mark (and continues to) on NASCAR racing that will be remembered forever.
Richard Childress - what needs to be said that we don't all know?
I'm going to mostly leave it at that - however, I was a true Buck Baker and Fireball Roberts fan.
Let the damage to my integrity begin - Bless each and every nominee - it's only from my ignorance I may not have included you.
Nina Agdal
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I would have to see the official list of nominees and do some research before I would be able to make a decision.
Although I will say Rusty Wallace is probably going to be shortlisted to go in, mostly based on name recognition alone. NASCAR has a long and diverse set of characters to pull from, but most of today's fans don't know the men/legends of the past. Sure you can probably find several out of a group off 100 people from the South East who know who Glen Roberts, and Leonard Wood are, but ask the same question to 100 people in any other part of the country and they would probably look at you dumbfounded. NASCAR has only been a national sport for at most 20 years, and while that may seem like a long time for some people it is still pretty young compared to the Stick and Balls. Heck there are probably plenty of fans out there today that only know Rusty as "That guy on ESPN".
But I do think NASCAR needs to harden the categories for the HoF inductees. With the plethora of personalities from drivers, to owners, to crew chiefs, to mechanics and beyond, they could probably double the number of people inducted and still take years before they run out of credible nominees. They should limit it to a certain number of drivers (3), crew chiefs/mechanics (1), and owners/executives (1) per year.
Personally I think the First Class was a fail on NASCAR's part because they had 2 executives (both Frances), and 3 Driver/Owners. Don't get me wrong both Bill France Sr and Jr should be in the HoF, but not together in the First Class. To me it should have been Bill Sr in the First Class, and Bill Jr in the Second Class.
Raistwalker
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Just for reference
Inductees 2013 list;
Buck Baker...Red Byron...Richard Childress...H.Clay Earles
Rusty Wallace...Jerry Cook...Tim Flock...Ray Fox
Anne B. France...Rick Hendrick...Jack Ingram...Bobby Isaac
Fred Lorenzon...Cotton Owens...Raymond Parks...Benny Parsons
Les Richter...Fireball Roberts...T.Wayne Robertson...Wendell Scott
Ralph Seagreaves...Herb Thomas...Curtis Turner...Joe Weatherly
Leonard Wood...
LittleE~BigMT fan
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I agree with;
Rusty Wallace: not being his time yet....too many others should be before him.
BIll France Sr and Jr....should have been in separate nominee years. (1st year & 2nd year as Raistwalker stated).
I think 5 per year is enough.....keeps it special and long lasting.
LittleE~BigMT fan
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My picks would be
Childress.....Hendricks......Wendell Scott.....Tim Flock......Fred Lorenzon.
2014 would be a good year to include Anne B. France.
LittleE~BigMT fan
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According to Wikipedia (since that was the easiest place to find the info) the 2013 Hall of Fame inductees (those who are going into the Hall) are:
Buck Baker
Cotton Owens
Herb Thomas
Rusty Wallace
Leonard Wood
Ceremony to be on February 8, 2013.
This list you have LittleE looks like the Nominees List, those people to be voted on.
Raistwalker
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Raistwalker, you are right.....I listed the 2013 nominees only for the purpose of discussion.
But ...OOOOOOPS.....I can now see my error....I used the words "Inductees list" and should have used "nominees list".
Sorry about that everyone.
LittleE~BigMT fan
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I don't want to sound like I'm being mean or making fun of you Little E, just trying to clarify that the class of 2013 has already been picked. Not that we still can't discuss it.
Raistwalker
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Raistwalker no problem at all.......I appreciated you pointing that out....it's all good.
LittleE~BigMT fan
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I would can Rusty in favor of Benny.
OLD BEAR
Orange Park , FL
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Well there was a rumor in May that Rusty might be dropped from the Class of 2013 for disparaging remarks he made about NASCAR. Whether the statement was meant to be true or just an off the cuff sarcastic comment I don't know. I would assume the latter, because no official announcement has been made removing him. But you know that they say about assuming.
Raistwalker
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No to rusty, childress, hendrick. Premature for all. Many other deserving, and almost forgotten, that need to be recognized before no one who even remembers them is left on earth to vote for them. Like other sports, needs to be a moritorium period, of "x" years after active participation, to be considered for hall of fame. Rusty has been inactive, OK, I admit it, I just don't like him at all. But the other two, premature
pondscum
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