2013 NASCAR HALL OF FAME

2013 NASCAR HALL OF FAME
SPEED is the official broadcast
network of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Meet the 2014 Nominees »

MEET THE 2013 INDUCTEES

Herb Thomas - Driver Truly one of NASCAR’s first superstars, Thomas was the first to win two NASCAR premier series championships (1951, ’53). He finished second in the points standings in 1952 and 1954 giving the North Carolina veteran top-two championship finishes in four consecutive seasons. He finished outside the top two in the championship only once (fifth in 1955) between 1951 and 1956. Thomas won the 1951 championship driving self-owned cars.: Herb Thomas

Leonard Wood - Owner The Wood Brothers team is renowned as the innovator of the modern pit stop. Leonard Wood, brother of Glen and Delano Wood, was front and center in its development as chief mechanic – that’s what they called crew chiefs in the early days – for the Stuart, Va.-based team. Wood’s accomplishments were not confined to pit road. He ran the team’s engine shop that provided horsepower and longevity on a par with rivals Holman-Moody and Petty Enterprises.: Leonard Wood

Rusty Wallace - Driver The 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, Wallace followed his father Russ Wallace onto the race track – a path taken as well by brothers Mike and Kenny. Wallace’s most successful seasons were spent behind the wheel of Penske Racing Fords, Pontiacs and Dodges from 1991 through his retirement in 2005. He won 37 times in Roger Penske’s cars finishing second in the points in 1993, the best of 11 top-10 championship rankings with the organization. Wallace currently is an ESPN NASCAR analyst.: Rusty Wallace

Cotton Owens - Driver/Owner There are successful drivers and there are successful owners. But, rarely are there both. Cotton Owens joins NASCAR Hall of Fame member Junior Johnson as masters of the two crafts. Owens was more than successful behind the wheel, winning nine times in NASCAR’s premier series competition, including the 1957 Daytona Beach road course which marked Pontiac’s first NASCAR victory. He nearly won the 1959 championship, finishing second to NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Lee Petty.: Cotton Owens

Buck Baker - Driver Elzie Wylie "Buck" Baker established himself as one of NASCAR’s early greats, becoming the first driver to win consecutive NASCAR premier series championships. That repeat performance in 1956-57 was the meat of an incredible four-year span; in 1955 and ’58 Baker finished as the series championship runner-up. His legend was made in NASCAR’s premier series; his career victory total of 46 ranks 14th all-time.: Buck Baker

MEET THE 2012 INDUCTEES

Richie Evans - Driver The recognized "king" of Modified racing, Evans captured nine NASCAR Modified titles in a 13-year span, including eight in a row from 1978-85. In the first year of the current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour format in 1985, Evans won 12 races, including a sweep of all four events at Thompson, Conn. Evans ranked No. 1 in the 2003 voting of the "NASCAR All-Time Modified Top 10 Drivers," and he was named one of NASCAR’s "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.: Richie Evans

Glen Wood - Driver Best known for his collaboration with brothers Leonard and Delano in Wood Brothers Racing. The Stuart, Va.-based team, which dates to 1950 and remains active, has amassed 98 victories in 1,367 races. The team’s all-time roster of drivers is a virtual who’s who of NASCAR and includes David Pearson, Curtis Turner, Marvin Panch, Dan Gurney, Tiny Lund, Parnelli Jones, Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Fred Lorenzen and Bill Elliott.: Glen Wood

Cale Yarborough - Driver Three consecutive NASCAR premier series championships from 1976-78 winning 28 races – nine in 1976, nine in ’77 and 10 in ’78. His final championship points margin in those three years was never fewer than 195 points and was as much as 474 in 1978. Yarborough totaled 83 victories in his 31-year career, ranks tied for fifth all-time. His 69 poles rank fourth all-time. And he won the Daytona 500 four times (1968, ’77, ’83-84), a mark that ranks second only to Richard Petty’s seven.: Cale Yarborough

Dale Inman - Crew Chief Behind every legendary driver, there is usually a legendary wrenchman. Inman, Petty’s crew chief at Petty Enterprises for nearly three decades, set records for most wins (193) and championships (eight - 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, and 1979 and 1984) by a crew chief.In 1967, Inman and Petty won a NASCAR-record 27 races – 10 of them consecutively. Inman helped unveil the first artifact at the NASCAR Hall of Fame – the Plymouth Belvedere that Petty drove to 27 wins in 1967.: Dale Inman

Darrell Waltrip - Driver A three-time NASCAR premier series champion (1981-82, ’85). Tied for third all-time in series victories with 84. His 59 poles rank fifth all-time in NASCAR Sprint Cup history. He competed from 1972-2000, another highlight being his 1989 Daytona 500 victory in a Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet. He currently is a commentator on FOX’s NASCAR broadcasts. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.: Darrell Waltrip

MEET THE 2011 INDUCTEES

Bobby Allison - Driver Allison, winner of the 1983 NASCAR premier series championship, ended his career with 84 victories, tied for third on the all-time list. In 1972, he won 10 races, had 12 second-place finishes and was the NASCAR premier series runner-up (to Richard Petty). Allison captured the NASCAR Modified Special Division championship in 1962 and '63 and then went on to win the Modified Division the following two years. In 1998, Allison was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers.": Bobby Allison

Ned Jarrett - Driver Jarrett was a two-time NASCAR champion (1961 and 1965) and two-time Sportsman Division champion (1957 and '58). Through his career he totaled 50 premier series wins, tied for 11th all-time. In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers." After retiring in 1966, Jarrett helped grow the sport through his second career as a broadcaster.: Ned Jarrett

Bud Moore - Driver A decorated World War II infantryman, Bud Moore became a successful NASCAR Sprint Cup owner almost immediately upon fielding a team in 1961. Moore won back-to-back championships in 1962-63 with Joe Weatherly. Earlier, in 1957, Moore – who referred to himself as "a country mechanic" – was crew chief for champion Buck Baker.: Bud Moore

David Pearson - Driver Pearson is a three-time NASCAR champion whose career total of 105 victories is second on the all-time list. Pearson won his titles in 1966, '68 and '69. He also won the sport's biggest event, the Daytona 500 in 1976. In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers.": David Pearson

Lee Petty - Driver Petty became the sports first three-time series champion after winning titles in 1954, '58 and '59. He was also the winner of the first Daytona 500 in 1959. His 54 career victories stands ninth on the all-time list and he never finished lower than fourth in points from 1949-1959. In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers." Petty is the founder of Petty Enterprises and as an owner had more than 2,000 starts and 268 wins.: Lee Petty

STILL WANT MORE?

Schedule