Emotions high as differing opinions rock the vote

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When NASCAR opted to keep its inaugural Hall of Fame class to five people, it put voters in a difficult position -- vote for pioneers of the sport, organizers of the sport or the best performers in the sport.

The voting panel opted Wednesday for the two men who led the sport for more than 50 years (Bill France and Bill France Jr.), the two men who won the most championships (Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt) and a legendary moonshiner who won races as an owner and driver (Junior Johnson).

The first class

Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Jr., Junior Johnson and Bill France Sr. will be enshrined in May 2010.

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"We wanted to make it a small enough group where it was special," said NASCAR chairman Brian France, son of Bill Jr. "There were 25 that were nominated. The fans got a vote in this. ... It is a great day for the sport."

Just missing the cut were some of NASCAR's greatest drivers, including David Pearson, who had 105 wins in 574 starts and who many consider the sport's greatest driver. Pearson, Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison were the top three vote getters who weren't in the top five.

"You had eight or 10 people that very much should have been in the first go-around," Petty said. "I just looked at some of us later stars, if it hadn't been for the Frances and a bunch of people that helped them, there wouldn't have been a Hall of Fame, a Richard Petty, a Dale Earnhardt. ..."

The differing opinions created a strange dynamic through the convention center, where the voters gathered earlier Wednesday to debate the nominees. Some of the voters described an emotional two-plus-hour meeting that was moderated by NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter. A presentation was made for each of the 25 nominees, and then the floor was opened for discussion.

"It was a meeting like I've never been in in racing, because I think everybody wanted to do the right thing and I think NASCAR was really nervous about the two Frances getting in," said voter Humpy Wheeler, longtime motorsports executive.

"There was definitely a division there of people who felt, 'Hey, let's get the guys in that started this thing first, and then we'll move on from there.' That was argued about."

NASCAR did not release the voting totals and said the order in which they were announced did not reflect the results. Brian France received the five envelopes one at a time from an independent accounting firm during the unveiling ceremony at the Charlotte Convention Center. (Continued)