NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR tips hat to sport's pioneers

Published Oct. 14, 2010 10:10 p.m. ET

foxsports

The ballots were secret but the emotion evident as voters choosing the second class to the NASCAR Hall of Fame debated, discussed and dissected the nominees. After nearly three hours spent promoting and contesting candidates, a class that few would have predicted was revealed: David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Lee Petty, Ned Jarrett and Bud Moore. It was a mix of the sport's pioneers and NASCAR's more recognizable names. All are worthy but just as noticeable was the absence of three-time champions Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough.

They will have to wait at least another year after each was listed on less than 45 percent of the 53 ballots cast. Wednesday's surprising class leads to the question of how the voters chose this group. Last year's class was easy. Many voters looked at six people to fill the five spots. Pearson, mentioned only once in discussions a year ago, did not make the inaugural class. Thus, Pearson was seen as a lock for the second class. He was listed on 94 percent of the ballots cast. But who would join him? Allison, Waltrip and Yarborough had similar statistics. If Pearson and those three were selected, it left only one other spot. In a room of voters where the average age was north of 50 years old, many could not shun the sport's early heroes. So, a way to split Allison, Yarborough and Waltrip was needed. And found. Voters debated how much weight to give a nominee's full body of work in the sport as compared to what they did on the track. Yarborough, who cut many ties with the sport after retiring as a car owner, appeared to suffer the most in this discussion. "Cale don't go anywhere he don't have to go or he wants to get paid everywhere he does go, which nothing wrong with that, but you just can't do it,'' Pearson said. And Yarborough was not at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the announcement. The argument for Petty was that without him there would have been no Petty Enterprises and no Richard Petty. Thus, selecting Lee Petty was a way to honor the sport's early days. He was listed on 62 percent of the ballots. Allison also received 62 percent of the vote. His inclusion provided a glorious moment in a star-crossed career. He endured the deaths of his two sons in the sport, saw his career end after a devastating crash but also won 84 times and a Cup title. "To have the heartache and the agony that we've had along the way ... it's really been a mixed thing,'' Allison said. "[Being selected] is so special because it is a really important part of our lives.'' As for Jarrett, his 50 wins and two championships make him worthy but it was his work as a broadcaster and with helping bring Anheuser-Busch to the sport that also mattered. A number of voters told endearing stories about Jarrett that seemed to impact other voters. "When I walked into the room, I didn't feel I had a real big chance,'' said Jarrett, who was listed on 58 percent of the ballots. "I felt it was probably less than 50-50 of being able to get in this time, and then after the discussion started and so many good things were said by a number of different people, then I began to feel a little bit better about it.'' During a break, Jarrett called his wife and told her, "I might have an outside chance.'' As for Moore, who was mentioned often in discussions, perhaps the most persuasive argument was about how the 85-year-old former champion car owner came from what is considered the greatest generation and how he earned a Bronze Star and five Purple Hearts during World War II. "I sort of went up on the totem pole, as you would call it,'' said Moore, also a voter, about the discussion on his behalf among the voters. For all he's accomplished, Moore -- selected by 45 percent of the voters -- called his selection as "one of the greatest moments of my life.'' For Waltrip, though, Wednesday was a day of disappointment. "Believe it or not, I think it is because I'm 63 years old,'' Waltrip said of his exclusion to the Hall. "I think they look at me as a guy that is going to be around for awhile. "In this sport, I've done everything they've ever asked me to do. I've won races, championships. I've done everything that I could do. It just wasn't my time.'' Maybe next year. David Pearson Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C. Claim to (Hall of) Fame: Three-time series champ who ranks second in all-time wins with 105. Is all-time record holder for wins at Darlington with 10. Bobby Allison Hometown: Hueytown, Ala. Claim to (Hall of) Fame: Won 1983 championship but finished second in points five times. His 84 victories tie him for third on the all-time list and include four Southern 500s. Lee Petty Hometown: Level Cross, N.C. Claim to (Hall of) Fame: First three-time champ in series history, whose 54 victories were a record until his son, Richard, passed him. Won inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. Ned Jarrett Hometown: Newton, N.C. Claim to (Hall of) Fame: Two-time champion who won 50 races. Also known for his broadcasting career and his role as the sport's ambassador. Bud Moore Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C. Claim to (Hall of) Fame: Was crew chief during Buck Bakers 1957 championship season and was a champion car owner with Joe Weatherly as the driver. Moore won 63 times as a car owner.