NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte will induct its first five members, all of whom were instrumental in the birth and popularization of stock car racing in the United States and beyond.
The inaugural class includes NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.; his son and successor as NASCAR chairman and CEO, Bill France Jr.; seven-time Sprint Cup champion drivers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt; and pioneering driver and car owner Junior Johnson.
All five members of the first class of inductees played different but essential roles in the growth of the sport from a disorganized, disparate regional pastime to the big business it is today, worthy of multiyear national television contracts that are the envy of sports with lesser levels of exposure.
Even in a weak economy, with all sports facing uphill battles to keep their seats filled, it's not unusual for a NASCAR race on a given Sunday to draw more than 100,000 fans to the track. Each Hall of Fame member deserves a share of credit for the enduring popularity of stock car racing.
The vision of Bill France Sr. made NASCAR a reality. Bill France Jr. presided over its explosive growth. Junior Johnson was an innovator who also helped bring major title sponsorship to NASCAR's top series.
During his record-setting career, Richard Petty connected with race fans like no other driver before or since. Dale Earnhardt inspired intense emotions throughout NASCAR's fan base—both love and loathing—with his unrelenting aggressiveness on the racetrack.
BY RIED SPENCER SPORTINGNEWS
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