Posted by GEORGE October 15, 2009 2:16:58 PM
If the sport of NASCAR Racing has a home, it most certainly is in North Carolina. That's where NASCAR was born and raised and grew into America's favorite pastime. So it's fitting that the NASCAR Hall of Fame is in Charlotte, North Carolina.
I exercised my invitation to vote for the first inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the selections were announced yesterday. I'm not disappointed in the results, and I don't think any true NASCAR fan will argue with the picks either. There are others who deserve to be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and future voting will put them there, but this year's selections will have the distinction of being the first five to be voted in. I am pleased that NASCAR fans were allowed to vote because statistics don't tell the whole story, and what is in the hearts and minds of the fans of NASCAR needed to be recognized.
Bill France Sr and Bill France Jr put the sport of NASCAR on the map and in front of a nation hungry for another American pastime. Without the efforts of the Frances there would be no NASCAR as we know it.
Richard Petty, The King of NASCAR, was responsible for the start of the glory years of NASCAR that we continue to enjoy today. Petty was the very first superstar of NASCAR, and some of his records will stand for all time.
Junior Johnson defines every NASCAR driver and every kid that every wanted to be a NASCAR driver. When you think about the original NASCAR drivers and what they went through in order to put the sport on solid ground while sacrificing their very livelihood, Junior Johnson is the first to come to mind.
Dale Earnhardt was the first driver to put it all together. Earnhardt was a fantastic stock car driver, a true pillar of the sport, and a NASCAR god to his totally dedicated fans. The "Intimidator" earned his right to be included in the group of the first inductees by his actions on and off the track. Bill France Sr, Bill France Jr, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt are all NASCAR champions in their own right, and are more than deserving to be our first inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Congratulations to them all!
Comments