T. Wayne Robertson, helped raise NASCAR popularity as R.J. Reynolds Senior VP
Herb Thomas, first two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion, 1951, ’53
Curtis Turner, early personality, called the “Babe Ruth of stock car racing”
Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Leonard Wood, part-owner and former crew chief for Wood Brothers, revolutionized pit stops
The five new names on the list:
Ray Fox, legendary engine builder and owner of cars driven by Buck Baker, Junior Johnson and others
Anne Bledsoe France, helped build the sport with husband Bill France Sr. Affectionately known as "Annie B.," she is the first woman to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Wendell Scott, NASCAR trailblazer was the first African-American NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series race winner, and first to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Rusty Wallace, 1989 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
At that point, I sat back and read comments for the rest of the evening and this morning from a variety of members of RacersReunion®. What I could glean from that is that the older fans are far less than thrilled with the entire process employed by the Hall of Fame. Almost to a man or woman, they are not so much offended by who is on the list, but by who isn't!
Last night I received an email from an old girlfriend that lives out on the west coast. She knows me well and as soon as she saw the new additions, knew that I would be more than upset that once again, Smokey Yunick did not appear on the list. Only a short time ago, I presented an article on these pages outlining the many talents of the man that ran "The Best Damn Garage in Town" in Daytona Beach. That can be accessed by clicking HERE.
Ah, but Smokey is merely my personal preference, which carries absolutely no weight other than that I think I'm right, but then, I always do. Other names, in no particular order, that were tossed out for consideration here on the site included John Holman, Ralph Moody, Carl Kiekhaefer, Herb Nab, Rex White, Red Farmer, Red Vogt, and Pete DePaolo. All more than worthy of consideration, in this humble fan's opinion.
This morning brought a post from a gentleman whom I was privileged to finally meet in person this past weekend at the Historic Columbia Speedway in South Carolina. He and I have expressed opposing views on the Hall of Fame from time to time, and I feared that even bringing it up might have sparked another round, but I was wrong.
I shall not name him, but will say that he has close ties to the Hall of Fame, and I have always respected his opinions, not just on this but on many topics we've discussed. Because I didn't obtain permission to quote him, I will let it suffice to say that his comments today were far less than positive. What follows is my answering post, without names included...
My friend, you just made my day. Thank you! As I've tried, time and again to explain to so many, I have no beef with the HOF as an organization and I have all the respect in the world for the artifacts and historical reminders of a better day that are housed within its walls.
My argument is, and always has been, with the induction process itself, or lack of same. So many of our heroes from the 40s and 50s have already left us, and it seems that almost daily now, someone else leaves. Raymond Parks died waiting for admittance, and he's still on the outside, looking in.
After waiting over 60 years before even starting the thing, (apparently until someone was found to finance it other than anyone named France) they drew a line in that sand at a paltry 5 inductions per year. That makes no sense to my mathematical mind and never will.
At this point, they act as if nothing can be done. "It is what it is." Well, I've said this before and I'll say it again. What it is, is BS! If anyone at NASCAR were man enough to say "Oops" just one time, they could still "Grandfather" in a whole lot of folks and get down to the business of electing a few of the folks that are actually alive.
Thanks so much for "not" having come in to fight. I can go back and finish my coffee now with a smile. My offer still stands, you know, exactly as I told [our mutual friend.] When Smokey Yunick is inducted, I will happily accompany you gentlemen to the HOF. Of course, there's that old theory about pigs flying too...
Someone asked last night for the names of the nominating committee. The updated list for the 2013 nominations for induction wasn't available yet, but it is now, so without further ado, here are the folks that selected this year's new crop of hopefuls, taken directly from the Hall of Fame News Release:
NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
NASCAR Hall of Fame: Executive Director Winston Kelley; Historian Buz McKim.
NASCAR Officials: Chairman/CEO Brian France; Vice Chairman Jim France; Senior Vice President Paul Brooks; President Mike Helton; Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton; Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O'Donnell; Competition Administrator Jerry Cook; former Vice President Ken Clapp.
Track Owners/Operators: International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa Kennedy; Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell; Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage; Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark; former Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George; Dover Motorsports CEO Denis McGlynn; Pocono Raceway board of director member Looie McNally; Bowman Gray Stadium operator Dale Pinilis; Riverhead Raceway operators Jim and Barbara Cromarty (1 vote); former Toyota Speedway at Irwindale operator Jim Williams; Rockford Speedway owner Jody Deery.
Alas, though the voting was turned over last night to the Voting Panel, for selection of the 2013 inductees, this year's Voting Panel is not on the Hall of Fame site yet. Below is the Voting Panel from 2012. There may be changes, but my guess is, they would be few at best, so here is a list of the folks that "may" decide the fate of five more names from the list:
VOTING PANEL
The Voting Panel consists of the above 21-member Nominating Committee and the following 34 representatives.
National Motorsports Press Association: Rea White, NMPA President; Kenny Bruce, SceneDaily.com; Dustin Long, Landmark Newspapers; Nate Ryan, USA Today; Jenna Fryer, Associated Press; Jim Pedley, RacinToday.com; NASCAR.COM representative TBD.
Eastern Motorsports Press Association: Ernie Saxton, EMPA President.
American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association: Dusty Brandel, AARWBA President.
Broadcasters: Mike Joy, FOX; Jerry Punch, ESPN; Kyle Petty, TNT; Barney Hall, MRN; Doug Rice, PRN; Rick Allen, SPEED; Dave Moody, Sirius NASCAR Radio.
Manufacturers: Chevrolet – Jim Campbell, former General Manager; Ford – Edsel B. Ford II, Board of Directors; Toyota – Lee White, President/General Manager, Toyota Racing Development USA.
Retired Drivers: Harry Gant; Ned Jarrett; Richard Petty; Ricky Rudd.
Retired Car Owners: Bud Moore; Cotton Owens; Junior Johnson.
Retired Crew Chiefs: Barry Dodson; Waddell Wilson; Buddy Parrott.
Industry leaders: Former Charlotte Motor Speedway President Humpy Wheeler; retired Associated Press writer Mike Harris; former motor sports journalist Tom Higgins; former broadcaster Ken Squier.
Fan Vote (Entire Fan Vote counts as only a single vote, one of fifty-five)
As you can see, the lists include a whole lot of folks that know their racing. Almost all of the names are household words on sites such as this one, as they're known to race fans and race participants everywhere. So what happens when those good folks get together in meetings behind closed doors? What changes them from the reasonable people we know them to be?
I honestly don't know, and they aren't talking. Though I cannot shake the feeling that "something is rotten in Denmark" as the saying goes, I can't find it in my heart to blame anyone on the list familiar to me.
If anyone can explain why the good men I listed as missing from the list are somehow less worthy than more than one of this year's selections, please feel free to do so. Better yet, if anyone knows a way to change the mind of whoever truly calls the shots and can get him or her to rethink the Grandfathering in of the builders of the sport from the very early days, please, just do it! What they are doing now isn't working.
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