25 Hall of Fame nominees unveiled for inaugural class (cont'd)

David Pearson | Video Highlights
The Silver Fox was the model of NASCAR efficiency during his career. With little exaggeration, when Pearson showed up at a race track, he won.

His 105 Cup Series victories ranks second all time, and he amassed that figure in only 574 races -- a winning percentage of 18.29.

In a career that spanned 27 years, Pearson never once ran every single race in a given season. When he came close to running the full schedule, he won a championship -- or came darn close.

In 1966, Pearson ran 42 of 49 races to win his first championship. In his '68 championship winning campaign, he ran 48 of 49 races. And in '69, he ran 51 of 54 en route to his third and final title.

His consistent greatness might best be defined by his 1974 performance, a season in which he did not win the championship. He finished third that year behind Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough -- but raced only 19 of 30 races.

Ranking second in wins and poles, Pearson's numbers are eclipsed only by Petty. Pearson won the Daytona 500 once (1976), but had six victories overall at Daytona International Speedway.

• Pearson career soars after Dieringer contract dispute

Lee Petty | Video Highlights
It took a while -- three whole days -- for officials to declare Lee Petty the winner of the first Daytona 500.

So in many ways, we have Petty to thank for the yearly spectacle that is the "Great American Race." That's because he created the very first spectacle.

On the final lap, Petty and Johnny Beauchamp barreled toward the finish line in what would become one of the closest finishes in the prestigious race's history. So close, in fact, that race officials put a hold on the results for three days. A photo snapped at the finish line confirmed Petty's win, his first in another championship winning season.

But that first Daytona 500 is only one of many Petty accomplishments. His career was a long list of "firsts" and "mosts." Along with winning the first Daytona 500, Petty was also the first driver to capture three championships in the Cup Series.

And up until the time his son Richard caught and passed him, Lee won more races than any other driver -- 54. That number still ranks ninth all-time.

But maybe his greatest legacy is his own name, and lineage. Petty, who started Petty Enterprises, is the father of Richard and the grandfather of Kyle Petty.

• Petty Enterprises: Modest beginnings to race royalty

Richard Petty | Video Highlights
Very rarely in sports do you find the all-time greatest competitor double as the all-time greatest ambassador.

But that's exactly what you get with Richard "The King" Petty.

The mountain of records he holds -- most of which will never be broken -- is one thing. But what Petty brought to NASCAR off the track during and after his long career cannot be measured by any numerical figures.

The countless autographs he signed and the hands he shook made him a fan favorite, and pushed NASCAR toward the front of the American conscience. Credit Petty for making NASCAR what it is today -- the most fan-friendly sport in the world.

But his on-track success cannot be ignored. His Cup Series records are staggering: most wins (200), most poles (123), tied for most championships (seven), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) and most starts (1,185).

Petty's success continued even after his retirement from driving in 1992. He would still hold the top spot in the family business -- Petty Enterprises, and now, Richard Petty Motorsports.

In all, Petty Enterprises totaled 268 victories before merging with Gillett Evernham Motorsports for the 2009 season to become Richard Petty Motorsports.

• Petty's 1967 Plymouth presented to Hall of Fame

Glenn "Fireball" Roberts | Video Highlights
Roberts, who got his legendary nickname from his days as a hard-throwing pitcher in high school, is perhaps the greatest driver never to win a NASCAR title.

He was arguably stock-car racing's first superstar, an immensely popular prototype for some of today's competitors who are stars on and off the track.

Of course, Roberts' fame was based on what he did when he got behind the wheel. During his career he often came up big in the biggest events, winning the Daytona 500 in 1962 and the Southern 500 in 1958 and '63. Overall he won seven races at Daytona International Speedway, starting with the Firecracker 250 in the summer of 1959 -- the year the speedway opened.

Roberts was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998; 40 years before that, he demonstrated a burst of greatness that is hard to fathom. He ran only 10 races in '58 but won six of them -- finishing 11th in the final Cup Series standings.

• NASCAR loses one of its stars in 1964 World 600

Herb Thomas
Thomas was truly one of NASCAR's first superstars. He was the first to win two Cup Series championships (1951, '53). He finished second in the points standings in 1952 and '54 giving the North Carolina veteran top-two championship finishes in four consecutive seasons.

He finished outside the top two in the championship only once (fifth in 1955) between 1951-56. Thomas won the '51 championship driving self-owned cars.

Thomas won the second running of Darlington Raceway's famed Southern 500 in 1951 and with back-to-back victories in 1954-55 was the race's first three-time winner.

Thomas won 48 times in series competition, a number that ranks 12th all time. His 48 victories in 228 starts equates to a series-record winning percentage of 21.05. Thomas won races in seven consecutive seasons from 1950-56.

After retiring from competition following the 1962 seasons, Thomas went on to start a trucking company and sawmill. He was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998. (Continued)