NASCAR announced its five newest faces who will be enshrined in January as the 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame class. Included is three-time champions Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip, eight-time championship winning crew chief Dale Inman, nine-time modified champion Richie Evans, and the man who was behind the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team that has stood the test of time, Glen Wood.
Somebody has to play the bad guy, the critic, the pundit. I guess that I will play that role. I had little doubt that Yarborough, Waltrip, and Inman would be headed for enshrinement in January. I also projected that a car owner would join them. My projection included Raymond Parks, but Glen Wood is equally as deserving. I have no qualms with Wood being inducted in the third-class. However, I must say, I am a little surprised that a driver that never made a name in NASCAR's highest level of competition made it in ahead of driver's that won championships in NASCAR's top level of racing.
Do not mistake me, I have the utmost respect for Evans and his staggering achievements, and he does deserve a place in NASCAR's Hall of Fame. With that said, I believe that there were more deserving candidates this year. I had a gut feeling that NASCAR would honor some of the pioneer drivers of NASCAR from the 1950's. My gut feeling was off the mark. Drivers such as Herb Thomas, Tim Flock, and Buck Baker won multiple championships in the 1950's. Thomas has the highest winning percentage in the history of NASCAR at 21.05 percent (48 wins in 228 starts). Flock is a close second with a winning percentage of 20.86 (39 wins in 187 starts). Baker won 46 races, but he had the longevity that made him a star in the sport, perhaps the third most recognized driver of the 1950's behind Lee Petty and the controversial Curtis Turner. Baker also became NASCAR's first back-to-back champion.
How about another two-time champion in Joe Weatherly? He won titles in 1962 and 1963.
I am not trying to discount Evans' accomplishments. He was an amazing wheelman. I have studied his statistics in the Modified division, but I personally cannot justify placing him in the NASCAR Hall of Fame at the expense of the champions and pioneers of NASCAR's highest form of racing. The 1950's was an important era in NASCAR, and era of growth and progression that put stock car racing on the radar, and the only driver from that era in the Hall of Fame is Lee Petty. Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson peaked in the 1960's.
Eventually, the Hall of Fame will recognize these men, but until then, let us congratulate the ones who are fortunate to have their name enshrined and their careers honored. Sincere congratulations to Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Inman, Richie Evans, and Glen Wood.
5 comments:
Where it the love for Red Byron?
I know, right? Red will get in one day I'm sure. But that will likely be a few years down the road.
It is the NASCAR hall of fame not THE CUP DRIVERS hall of fame. Richie Evans was an incredible driver and he should have been a cup driver and probably would have been a champion in cup as well.
Richie could do it all. Daytona road course, made the field including cup drivers look out classed. Well deserved to be in this years class
I agree that Evans was a phenomenal driver. I also agree that he deserves to be in the NASCAR HOF. But, I firmly believe that the early stages and foundational years of the HOF should be filled with the pioneers and legends of Cup, because that is the top level of Nascar racing. There is plenty of time for guys like Evans, Jerry Cook, Jack Ingram, Sam Ard, and so on. I doubt they will be forgotten in future HOF inductions. I do like the fact that Evans has alot of supports over 25 years after his tragic death.
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