Hall of Fame charter class to be announced Oct. 14

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR will gather at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday to announce the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class.

The nominees, which include many of the sport's legendary names, were selected by a 21-person nominating committee consisting of representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and track owners from both major facilities and historic short tracks.

The HOF's first inductees will be determined by the Voting Panel, which has 50 members -- the entire Nominating Committee, 14 media members, four manufacturer representatives, nine retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs -- three each) and two recognized industry leaders. In addition, the fan vote will result in the Voting Panel's 51st and final ballot.

The inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be inducted into the Hall in a ceremony to be held May 23, 2010, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.

The 25 nominees:

• Bobby Allison, 1983 Cup Series champion and winner of 84 races
• Buck Baker, first driver to win consecutive Cup Series championships
• Red Byron, first Cup Series champion, in 1949
• Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in the national series
• Dale Earnhardt, won a record seven Cup Series championships
• Richie Evans, nine-time NASCAR Modified champion
• Tim Flock, two-time Cup Series champion
• Bill France Jr., NASCAR president, chairman and CEO (1972-2003)
• Bill France Sr., NASCAR founder and first president (1948-1972)
• Rick Hendrick, 11-time car owner champion in the national series
• Ned Jarrett, two-time Cup Series champion
• Junior Johnson, 50 wins as driver; 132 wins and six championships as owner
• Bud Moore, 63 wins and two Cup Series titles as a car owner
• Raymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car owner
• Benny Parsons, 1973 Cup Series champion
• David Pearson, 105 victories and three Cup Series championships
• Lee Petty, winner of first Daytona 500 and first three-time series champion
• Richard Petty, 200 wins and seven Cup Series titles -- both records
• Fireball Roberts, won 33 Cup Series races, including the 1962 Daytona 500
• Herb Thomas, first two-time Cup Series champion, 1951 and '53
• Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"
• Darrell Waltrip, winner of 84 races and three Cup Series championships
• Joe Weatherly, two-time Cup Series champion
• Glen Wood, as driver, laid foundation for Wood Brothers' future team success
• Cale Yarborough, winner of three consecutive Cup Series titles, 1976-78