DAVID PEARSON SNUBBED IN INAGURAL NASCAR HALL OF FAME CLASS

NASCAR revealed the first five inductees for their newly created Hall of Fame on Wednesday, and amid a number of obvious choices there was a good deal of controversy.  No one had issue with the inclusion of iconic drivers Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Richard Petty or Junior Johnson.  Nor was there question that NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. belonged in the inaugural class. The surprise came at the inclusion of his son—Bill France, Jr.—which necessitated the omission of the legendary ‘Silver Fox’, David Pearson.
 
While no one questions the importance that the junior France had in growing NASCAR from a regional southern racing circuit into the billion dollar juggernaut it is today, the snub of Pearson was difficult to rationalize for not only racing fans and media, but some of the other inductees as well.  Pearson won 105 races during his career, leaving him second on the all time win list behind “The King” Richard Petty with an almost unfathomable 200 victories.  Pearson and Petty are the only drivers to win more than 100 races on stock car racing’s marquee circuit—and no one has come within 20 wins of the feat (Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip are tied for third with 84 apiece).

Pearson was philosophical about his omission when interviewed immediately after the ceremony:
“When I seen the two Frances was in, I knew I didn't have a chance.  The same people don't like everybody. So there got to be some people voting for other people. If they don't like me, they're going to vote for somebody else anyway, so that's all right. I'm happy.”

Richard Petty, meanwhile, summed up the feelings of many NASCAR observers:

"Anybody that won 105 races and didn't make the cut -- somebody ain't adding right”

The debut Hall of Fame class was chosen from a group of nominees, and a presentation given on each.  Afterwards, there was two hours of open debate and discussion before a secret vote was taken.  Former Charlotte Motor Speedway GM ‘Humpy’ Wheeler said it was a strange dynamic:

"It was a meeting like I've never been in in racing, because I think everybody wanted to do the right thing and I think NASCAR was really nervous about the two Frances getting in. There was definitely a division there of people who felt 'Hey, lets get the guys in that started this thing first, and then we'll move on from there.' That was argued about."

Current NASCAR president—and Bill France, Jr’s son—Brian France tried to put a positive spin on the PR debacle:

"There was a lot of discussion about having two France family members in the same year so I was surprised, but very, very proud. Look, all the inductees easily could have made first ballot, but I also know how hard my father and grandfather worked. They poured their whole heart into this sport. It's a proud day for the France family."

NASCAR didn’t release vote totals, though they did indicate that Pearson, Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough were the next three highest vote getters. They declined to specify in which order they finished.