Get your computers fired up, NASCAR fans, because now it’s time to make your vote count.
The Fan Vote part for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2015 opened Wednesday, with balloting continuing until Tuesday, May 20, at Noon ET.
Fans can choose from any of the 20 nominees, with the five nominees receiving the highest percentage of votes ultimately comprising the fan vote that will be included among those cast by the 54-member Hall voting panel. The panel meets the following day after the fan voting closes, Weds. May 21, to select the final five inductees for the 2015 Hall class.
“The NASCAR Hall of Fame is the only hall of its kind where fans have had a voice in the induction process since its inception,” said Brett Jewkes, NASCAR chief communications officer. “And the reason is simple. NASCAR fans are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the sport and its history, and have demonstrated that with their selections for the first five classes.”
Here’s the 20 nominees for the five-member 2015 Hall class, as well as five nominees for the inaugural Landmark award:
* Buddy Baker, won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier (now Sprint Cup) series, including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500
* Red Byron, first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949
* Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series
* Jerry Cook, six-time NASCAR Modified champion
* Bill Elliott, 1988 premier series champion, two-time Daytona 500 winner and 16-time Most Popular Driver
* Ray Fox, legendary engine builder and owner of cars driven by Buck Baker, Junior Johnson and others
* Rick Hendrick, 14-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series
* Bobby Isaac, 1970 NASCAR premier series champion
* Terry Labonte, Two-time NASCAR premier series champion
* Fred Lorenzen, 26 wins and winner of the Daytona 500 and World 600
* Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner
* Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier series champion
* Larry Phillips, only five-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion
* Wendell Scott, NASCAR trailblazer was the first African-American NASCAR premier series race winner, and first to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
* O. Bruton Smith, builder of Charlotte Motor Speedway and architect of Speedway Motorsports Inc.
* Mike Stefanik, winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships
* Curtis Turner, early personality, called the “Babe Ruth of stock car racing”
* Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR premier series champion
* Rex White, 1960 NASCAR premier series champion
* Robert Yates, won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner
The five nominees for the inaugural Landmark Award are:
* H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway
* Anne Bledsoe France, helped build the sport with husband Bill France Sr. Affectionately known as “Annie B.,” she is the first woman to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
* Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner
* Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
* Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner / namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence
To cast your vote, click here:
Fololow me @JerryBonkowski
<END>