I've heard Jim McKay on ABC's Wide World of Sports back in the day do it several times - call Richard "Dick." From what I've read about the pompous McKay, no anount of educating by Chris Economaki would have cured McKay from describing Dick Petty and Dave Pearson. Chase, this is quite an excellent piece of research. Thanks.
With no disrespect to any particular individual, it is my opinion that the bulk of the nominators and voters are unqualified for the assigned task.
Dennis... that is an EXCELLENT question. According to the Hall's web site they do offer educational school visits:
http://www.nascarhall.com/tickets/field-trips
I must say, the pricing seems pretty outrageous.
I have two grandsons enrolled in local schools, one finishing 4th grade in Charlotte and one finishing 8th grade in Union County, NC. They have been on numerous school sponsored trips to many venues in Charlotte, but never to the NASCAR HOF. I'd say Charlotte city tourism leaders and HOF officials are really missing the boat here.
While we're at it, there should also be a spot in the HOF for the longtime co-owner of most of Ray Hendrick's modified and Late Model Sportsman rides, as well as the engine builder, Jack Tant. Gosh only knows how many engines came out of Jack Tant Automotive for top drivers all over.
Each and every one more worthy than many in the HOF and many who are nominated.
I'll very definitely take exception to one of your "red" drivers. I'd take Hershel McGriff every time over most already in the Hall and most that have ever been nominated. He's an amazing talent who won in multiple decades for many decades, even after stepping back. Hershel is a true auto racing treasure who really kept left coast racing going. Gosh only knows what he'd have won in GN if he hadn't left Georgia and returned to Oregon.
And Jerry Cook was a STROKER (remember them) who ran many times a week accumulating points toward his championships and then became a NASCAR employee. I still say I'll consider it a HOF the day Ray Hendrick is inducted. He beat Jerry Cook, Richie Evans and Jack Ingram heads up so many times it would make your head spin.
It's a nice building with nice displays and a lousy list of inductees and nominees.
By the way, Tiny Lund's May 10, 1970 NASCAR Pacific Coast Grand National win on Sacramento's 1-mile dirt California State Fairgrounds track came in a car owned by BILL CLINTON!
Nah... not that one... this Bill Clinton was from Los Angeles!
This was a Wednesday night race under the "original" Virginia State Fairgrounds lights. Tiny had to do some serious hustling. He had won a NASCAR Pacific Coast Grand National Late Model Stock car race over the weekend on Sunday in Sacramento, California. The Richmond Grand American race was the first major NASCAR event since a national television audience on ABC saw Richard Petty take his tremendous hit on the Darlington infield pit wall followed by the scary rollover.
1970 Sacramento 100 NASCAR Grand National West race number 4 of 19
|
| Fin | St | # | Driver | Sponsor / Owner | Car | Laps | Money | Status | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 45 |  Tiny Lund | Bill Clinton | '69 Ford | 100 | 1,500 | running | 51 |
| 2 | 11 | 24 | Ray Johnstone | Karl Hutchinson | '67 Chevrolet | 100 | 900 | running | 0 |
| 3 | 7 | 00 | Frank James | Jim Calder | '69 Chevrolet | 100 | 750 | running | 0 |
| 4 | 10 | 6 | Jerry Oliver | Cos Cancilla | '70 Oldsmobile | 100 | 650 | running | 0 |
| 5 | 4 | 02 | Dick Bown | Ober Logging (Mike Ober) | '69 Chevrolet | 99 | 575 | running | 0 |
| 6 | 13 | 08 | John Soares, Jr. | Plymouth (John Soares, Sr.) | '70 Plymouth | 99 | 525 | engine | 7 |
| 7 | 15 | 43 | Frank Burnett | Paul Jenkins | '69 Plymouth | 97 | 500 | running | 0 |
| 8 | 3 | 88 | Don Noel | Noel-Lewin (Don Noel) | '67 Ford | 97 | 475 | running | 40 |
| 9 | 26 | 5 | Scotty Cain | Bill Clinton | '69 Ford | 96 | 450 | running | 0 |
| 10 | 9 | 8 | Bob England | Bob England | '69 Chevrolet | 96 | 400 | running | 0 |
| 11 | 5 | 32 | Kevin Terris | Gary Sigman | '70 Plymouth | 95 | 200 | running | 0 |
| 12 | 19 | 129 | Jerry Griffin | Jerry Griffin | '69 Ford | 94 | 150 | running | 0 |
| 13 | 22 | 2 | Johnny Steele | Johnny Steele | '69 Ford | 92 | 125 | running | 0 |
| 14 | 17 | 38 | Jimmy Insolo | Marvin Rowley | '68 Chevrolet | 92 | 100 | running | 0 |
| 15 | 24 | 9 | Bill Pratt | Paul Burchard | '67 Mercury | 89 | 100 | running | 0 |
| 16 | 2 | 96 | Ray Elder | Hargis Engineering (Fred Elder) | '69 Dodge | 86 | 80 | clutch | 2 |
| 17 | 20 | 44 | Hank Dekker, Jr. | Joseph Williams | '69 Dodge | 79 | 70 | rear end | 0 |
| 18 | 23 | 19 | Les Cooper | Carter Johnson | '67 Chevrolet | 68 | 60 | running | 0 |
| 19 | 6 | 15 | Paul Dorrity | Glen Dorrity | '69 Chevrolet | 47 | 50 | overheating | 0 |
| 20 | 12 | 23 | G.T. Tallas | G.T. Tallas | '69 Ford | 31 | 25 | rear end | 0 |
| 21 | 8 | 7 | Jack McCoy | Hilton Hyper Lube (Ernie Conn) | '70 Dodge | 22 | 25 | engine | 0 |
| 22 | 14 | 68 | Don Simkins | Don Simkins | '68 Oldsmobile | 11 | 25 | spindle | 0 |
| 23 | 25 | 09 | Sam Rose | Sam Rose | '67 Ford | 10 | 25 | front wheel | 0 |
| 24 | 16 | 40 | Les Loeser, Jr. | Loeser & Lankford (Les Loeser, Sr.) | '68 Ford | 9 | 25 | crash | 0 |
| 25 | 18 | 11 | Ed Brown | Ed Brown | '68 Ford | 6 | 25 | engine | 0 |
| 26 | 21 | 28 | Pat Patrick | Russ Whiteside | '69 Plymouth | 4 | spun | 0 | |
| 27 | 27 | 188 | Bill O'Neil | Bill O'Neil | '67 Chevrolet | 3 | flagged | 0 | |
| 28 | 28 | 144 | Jim Good | James Good | '68 Chevrolet | 0 | did not start Results from Racing Reference | 0 |
You've probably seen this... but here's a story with photos:
