With the new year comes new inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Out of the 25 nominees, the following five will be officially enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame during induction ceremonies on May 23, 2011 at the Charlotte Convention Center’s Crown Ballroom.
Driver (10-12-32)
Hometown: Newton, North Carolina
Competed: 1953-1966
Starts: 353
Wins: 50
Poles: 35
Ned Jarrett’s charging capabilities combined with consistency led his racing career to two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships. His 50 career victories are tied for 10th all-time with Junior Johnson. He won a total of 28 races during the 1964 and ’65 seasons.
Jarrett won his first series title in 1961 while driving a Chevrolet for W.G. Holloway Jr. He finished with only one victory, but posted an impressive 34 top 10s in 46 starts. In 1965, he won his second title while driving for DuPont heir Bondy Long, and despite a back injury he finished with 13 wins and 42 top fives in 54 starts that season.
Ned Jarrett won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway by 14 laps, (17.5 miles), still the largest margin of victory in NASCAR Sprint Cup history.
Driver (12-3-37)
Hometown: Hueytown, Alabama
Competed: 1961-88
Starts: 718
Wins: 84
Poles: 58
Bobby Allison was the 1983 champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and ended his career with 84 victories. He was tied for third on the all-time victory list with Darrell Waltrip.
A charter member of the “Alabama Gang,” Allison has become one of NASCAR’s most beloved former competitors, in large part because of his remarkable resilience after a career-ending accident at Pocono Raceway in 1988 – just months after he won the Daytona 500.
Bobby Allison continues to be cherished by the millions of fans who remember his long list of accomplishments, which include:
- 1978, ’82 ’88 Daytona 500 victories;
- His 1983 championship season;
- Two NASCAR Modified Division championships, in 1964 and 1965
- Two NASCAR Modified Special Division titles in 1962-63.
His fantastic 1972 season, when he won 10 races, had 12 second-place efforts and 11 poles, in the process finishing second to Richard Petty in the series championship standings.
Fittingly, Allison was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers” in 1998.
Owner (5-25-25)
Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Competed: 1961-2000
Starts: 959
Wins: 63
A decorated World War II infantryman, Bud Moore became a successful NASCAR Sprint Cup owner almost immediately upon fielding a team in 1961. Moore won back-to-back championships in 1962-63
with Joe Weatherly. Earlier, in 1957, Moore – who referred to himself as “a country mechanic” – was crew chief for champion Buck Baker.
During 37 seasons in NASCAR’s premier division, Moore’s cars won 63 times and finished 298 and 463 times respectively among the top five and top 10. His cars also won 43 poles in the team’s 959 starts. Moore-owned cars have visited Victory Lane in most of the sport’s biggest events including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500.
Moore’s cars, both fast and dependable, attracted the sport’s top drivers. They included Weatherly, Dale Earnhardt, Fireball Roberts, David Pearson, Billy Wade, Darel Dieringer, Bobby Isaac, Buddy Baker, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, Ricky Rudd and Geoffrey Bodine.
As a top performer among Ford’s motorsports stable, Moore frequently was tapped to spearhead the company’s other racing endeavors. Among his successes was the 1970 Sports Car Club of America championship with Parnelli Jones.
Driver (3-14-14 – 4-5-2000)
Hometown: Randleman, North Carolina
Competed: 1949-64
Starts: 427
Wins: 54
Poles: 18
It took a while – three whole days – for officials to declare Lee Petty the winner of the first Daytona 500.
So in many ways, we have Petty to thank for the yearly spectacle that is “The Great American Race.” That’s because he created the very first spectacle.
On the final lap, Petty and Johnny Beauchamp barreled toward the finish line, in what would become one of the closest finishes in the prestigious race’s history. So close, in fact, that race officials put a hold on the results for three days. A photo snapped at the finish line confirmed Petty’s win, his first in another championship winning season.
But that first Daytona 500 is only one of many Petty accomplishments. His career was a long list of “firsts” and “mosts.” Along with winning the first Daytona 500, Petty also was the first driver to capture three championships in what now is the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
And up until the time his own son, Richard, caught and passed him, Lee won more races than any other driver – 54. That number still ranks ninth all-time.
But maybe his greatest legacy is his own name – and lineage. Petty, who started Petty Enterprises, is the father of “The King” Richard Petty and the grandfather of Kyle Petty.
Driver (12-22-34)
Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Competed: 1960-86
Starts: 574
Wins: 105
Poles: 113
David Pearson, a.k.a. The Silver Fox, was the model of NASCAR efficiency during his career.
With little exaggeration, when Pearson showed up at a race track, he won.
His 105 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories ranks second all-time, and he amassed that figure in only 574 races – a winning percentage of 18.29.
In a career that spanned 27 years, Pearson never once ran every single race in a given season. When he came close to running the full schedule, he won a championship – or came darn close.
In 1966, Pearson ran 42 of 49 races to win his first championship. In his 1968 championship winning campaign, he ran 48 of 49 races. And in 1969, he ran 51 of 54 en route to his third and final title.
His consistent greatness might best be defined by his 1974 performance, a season he did not win the championship. He finished third that year behind Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough – but raced only 19 of 30 races.
Ranking second in wins and poles, Pearson’s numbers are eclipsed only by Petty. Pearson won the Daytona 500 once (1976), but had six victories overall at Daytona International Speedway.
Inductee information courtesy of NASCAR HALL Of FAME