“Hank Williams sang it, number three drove it,” sings Tim McGraw in his song “Southern Voice.” The man who made the number three an icon, as well as four other NASCAR pioneers made up NASCAR’s first ever Hall of Fame class.
While NASCAR is often looked at as a Southern sport, we all got invited to the inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Charlotte.
Bill France Sr., the man who dreamt up the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, was the first inductee, and rightfully so. Without “Big Bill,” there’d be no NASCAR, and there’d be no NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The second man inducted is quite possibly the sport’s most known figure—“The King” Richard Petty. His 200 wins are a NASCAR best, and no other driver may ever reach that plateau. Richard Petty was inducted in by his son Kyle.
“I never did anything by myself,” said Petty, who closed with, “I guess I’m going to be like Gomer Pyle. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Bill France Jr., was also inducted. The second generation France led NASCAR through its biggest period of growth. TV contracts, sponsorship from R.J. Reynolds tobacco company and now Sprint/Nextel are some of his major accomplishments.
His daughter, Lesa France Kennedy, said about her father, “He loved this sport. He was passionate about it. He built it literally from the ground up. When I say ‘the ground up,’ I’m talking about a backhoe at Daytona International Speedway.”
Junior Johnson was the second living member of the 2010 class, and the second driver inducted. His 16-year-old son Robert inducted his father, saying, “Although my father may be going into the NASCAR Hall of Fame today, he’s always been a Hall of Fame dad in my heart.”
Johnson told stories of his old days running moonshine and when he signed Darrell Waltrip to drive for him. “What are you going to do for Darrell if he wins the championship?” Waltrip remembered his attorney saying to Johnson. “I’ll tell you what I’m going to do if he don’t,” Johnson replied.
But the most anticipated induction of the afternoon was the induction of NASCAR’s most popular star of the 1990s and beyond—Dale Earnhardt Sr. His family was there to accept his induction and each of his children spoke along with his wife Teresa.
His 21-year-old daughter, Taylor, said, “Dad gave all four of us something. He gave all his fans something. I think that’s what makes him a true champion in everybody’s eyes.”
Fans from the back of the auditorium, dressed in Dale Earnhardt gear held up three fingers in remembrance of the legend.
NASCAR’s first Hall of Fame class was full of legends, and all were deserving of nomination. And watching the induction ceremony yesterday reminded me of the vast history of the sport. While I’ve been lucky enough to watch almost every race on TV, or at least try to catch a radio broadcast of the event, there were times when NASCAR truly was a Southern sport.
Boy, am I glad it’s since migrated. I’m sure glad I got to see old number three drive, and see Earnhardt along with four other NASCAR legends put where they rightfully belong—the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Goal number one: get to Charlotte some day to see it.
While NASCAR is often looked at as a Southern sport, we all got invited to the inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Charlotte.
Bill France Sr., the man who dreamt up the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, was the first inductee, and rightfully so. Without “Big Bill,” there’d be no NASCAR, and there’d be no NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The second man inducted is quite possibly the sport’s most known figure—“The King” Richard Petty. His 200 wins are a NASCAR best, and no other driver may ever reach that plateau. Richard Petty was inducted in by his son Kyle.
“I never did anything by myself,” said Petty, who closed with, “I guess I’m going to be like Gomer Pyle. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Bill France Jr., was also inducted. The second generation France led NASCAR through its biggest period of growth. TV contracts, sponsorship from R.J. Reynolds tobacco company and now Sprint/Nextel are some of his major accomplishments.
His daughter, Lesa France Kennedy, said about her father, “He loved this sport. He was passionate about it. He built it literally from the ground up. When I say ‘the ground up,’ I’m talking about a backhoe at Daytona International Speedway.”
Junior Johnson was the second living member of the 2010 class, and the second driver inducted. His 16-year-old son Robert inducted his father, saying, “Although my father may be going into the NASCAR Hall of Fame today, he’s always been a Hall of Fame dad in my heart.”
Johnson told stories of his old days running moonshine and when he signed Darrell Waltrip to drive for him. “What are you going to do for Darrell if he wins the championship?” Waltrip remembered his attorney saying to Johnson. “I’ll tell you what I’m going to do if he don’t,” Johnson replied.
But the most anticipated induction of the afternoon was the induction of NASCAR’s most popular star of the 1990s and beyond—Dale Earnhardt Sr. His family was there to accept his induction and each of his children spoke along with his wife Teresa.
His 21-year-old daughter, Taylor, said, “Dad gave all four of us something. He gave all his fans something. I think that’s what makes him a true champion in everybody’s eyes.”
Fans from the back of the auditorium, dressed in Dale Earnhardt gear held up three fingers in remembrance of the legend.
NASCAR’s first Hall of Fame class was full of legends, and all were deserving of nomination. And watching the induction ceremony yesterday reminded me of the vast history of the sport. While I’ve been lucky enough to watch almost every race on TV, or at least try to catch a radio broadcast of the event, there were times when NASCAR truly was a Southern sport.
Boy, am I glad it’s since migrated. I’m sure glad I got to see old number three drive, and see Earnhardt along with four other NASCAR legends put where they rightfully belong—the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Goal number one: get to Charlotte some day to see it.
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