Written by
The Sports Network
Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - The 25 nominees for the 2012 NASCAR Hall of
Fame induction class were announced on Thursday, with five new candidates
joining the roster.
H. Clay Earles, Bobby Isaac, Cotton Owens, Les Richter and Leonard Wood were
new names added to the nominee list for the third list. The remaining 20
nominees were already selected in either the first or second induction class.
Earles was one of the original pioneers of stock car auto racing. He built and
opened Martinsville Speedway in 1947. The half-mile track in Virginia remains
the only facility to host races in NASCAR's top series every year since the
series' inception in 1949.
Isaac won the 1970 Cup Series championship and recorded 37 victories during
his career. He finished second to David Pearson in the 1968 point standings.
Isaac won 19 poles in 1969, which still stands as the record for most poles in
a single season.
Owens won nine times in NASCAR's premier circuit, including the 1957 Daytona
Beach, FL beach/road course, which marked Pontiac's first victory in the
sport. He won the 1953 and '54 titles in NASCAR's modified stock car series.
As a car owner, Owens won the 1966 Cup championship with Pearson.
Richter was a former NASCAR executive and president of Riverside International
Raceway in Riverside, CA. He achieved early fame as a defensive star for the
Los Angeles Rams in the 1950's and '60's. Affectionately known as "Coach"
throughout the motorsports industry, Richter was named to the College Football
Hall of Fame in 1982. He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
February. Richter passed away last June at the age of 79.
Wood, part-owner and former crew chief for Wood Brothers Racing,
revolutionized pit stops in NASCAR. He figured out ways to get the race car
serviced in the least amount of time. The team used a light-weight jack in
place of a 100-lbs. floor jack found in the repair shops during the early days
of stock car racing. His brother, Glen, made this list of 25 nominees for the
inaugural NASCAR HofF induction class.
A 21-member committee - consisting of NASCAR officials and industry leaders,
as well as owners/operators of current and historic racetracks - determined
the nominees.
Next year's five inductees will be selected by a 54-member voting panel made
up of NASCAR officials, manufacturer representatives, former competitors and
members of the media. The fan vote will make up the voting panel's 55th and
final ballot. Fans can vote on NASCAR.com from April 28 to June 12.
The 2012 induction class will be announced on June 14 at the NASCAR HofF in
Charlotte.
On May 23, Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, David Pearson and Lee Petty
will be inducted as the second class into the NASCAR HofF.
The Sports Network