First five Hall of Famers on and off the track

There is plenty of logic in the selections for NASCAR’s inaugural Hall of Fame class. The choice of Bill France Sr. and Jr., Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Junior Johnson as the first inductees isn’t surprising. Each of these men had stellar careers and greatly influenced the sport of auto racing, helping create the NASCAR we know today.

Let’s start with the founder Bill France Sr. That’s a logical choice. I never met him, but if I were to have met him, the first thing I would have said is, “Thank you.”

I know more about his son and the influence that he had on NASCAR. I’ve read that some people are debating whether two Frances should be in the first class. I think both belong because each represented two different eras and two different accomplishments.

What we’re experiencing today is a product of Bill France Jr. How innovative our sport has become, the fact that the majority of race tracks are part of three publicly traded companies, the television package – all this momentum and growth that we’ve experienced is in large part a result of France Jr.’s guidance. Without that, I don’t know if NASCAR would have raised enough capital to build a Hall of Fame.

As for Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, the two seven-time champions deserve to share this honor together. As impressive and accomplished as a number of other drivers have been, these two stand alone, and not just because of what they did on the track.

I do think you have to give some consideration to how their personalities have contributed to the sport. The fact that one of them is referred to as the King obviously speaks volumes, and whether you raced against him or watched him in your living room in Newberg, Maine, you always got the same thing from Petty. He is the ultimate ambassador for the sport.

And in my era of NASCAR, I don’t know if there’s been a driver more synonymous with our style of racing than Earnhardt. Stock car racing is about swapping paint, bump drafting and sliding in and out of the turns, and I can’t think of anyone who did that better or more often than Dale Sr.

Junior Johnson is a legend. He is one of the most popular names in the garage area, and so many in our sport somehow have been associated with Johnson. They all have stories, and they all admire what he has contributed to NASCAR.

For those, like myself, who did not have the chance to race against him or drive for him, well, we all wish we had.

Let me share three quick personal stories which don’t do much to support being elected to the first class, but do reveal some insight to the personality and character of the three soon-to-be Hall of Famers that I knew.

Bill France Jr. could apply common sense to anything as well as anyone I’ve ever met.

During my career, I went to him twice with questions about certain business situations. Both times it took him only a few minutes to offer something I would have paid ample for.

One time, I went to him with a question about my Busch Grand National team. It was hemorrhaging money to the point that it was preoccupying my thoughts. I’d asked people about what I should do, but I they only told me what I already knew.

So I went to Bill Jr. and outlined my situation. When I was done, he paused, looked at the ground and then looked at me. I was waiting for him to say something like, “Why in the hell are you bothering me with this?”

Three times he looked at me, then the ground, then back to me. Finally, he looked up and said, “Here’s what I would do.”

He spent three minutes outlining a plan. I listened, took what he said back home, met with the executives of the company sponsoring my team and sold them on everything Bill Jr. had advised me to do. I wouldn’t have had courage to propose it had it not been for Bill Jr., and the result corrected my problem.

There was nothing you couldn’t talk to Bill France Jr. about.

Dale Sr. was generous, too.

Back in 1996 I was involved in a wreck at Talladega. It required a few days in the hospital. Dale offered up his plane to get my crew back home. I told him to send me the bill, and he said to me, “Don’t worry, Ricky, you’re going to pay.”

A few weeks later I saw him and said, “I still don’t have the bill.” Again he told me, “Don’t worry, you’re going to pay.”

I never saw that bill.

Growing up, Richard Petty was my hero. And every time I’ve talked to him, he never disappointed. Every conversation we’ve had only enhanced my admiration for him.

I wish I knew more of the Petty family. They always have gone the extra mile, not only to help our sport, but also the people in it.

Case in point is Kyle Petty. A few years back, a young man from my home state unexpectedly passed away. Someone asked me if I would come up to help out with a charity auction.

The auction followed a Cup race at Dover. As I was leaving the track to fly to Maine, Kyle came running up to me, still in his fire suit.

He said, “Hey, I heard you’re going to a fundraiser this week.”

I told him I was.

Kyle took his helmet, handed it to me and said, “Hey, maybe this will help.”

He slapped me on the shoulder, turned around and jogged back to his transporter.

That’s the Pettys, and I think they are a reflection of Richard.

I appreciate these five first members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. They were appropriately chosen for all they have done and all that they accomplished, all of which is very convincing. It’s my experience that they are equally great people.