First NASCAR hall snubs Pearson

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. headlined the five inductees into the first Hall of Fame class, a group that drew mixed reactions to the inclusion of France's son instead of driver David Pearson.

France, who formed the National Association of Stock Car Racing in 1947, was the first inductee announced Wednesday during a ceremony that followed a lengthy voting session at Charlotte Convention Center.

Richard Petty, the seven-time Cup champion and NASCAR's all-time wins leader, was the second inductee revealed by NASCAR chairman Brian France.

Next up was Bill France Jr., son of the NASCAR founder who spent nearly 30 years at the helm of America's top motorsports series.

"When I seen the two Frances was in, I knew I didn't have a chance," Pearson said after the ceremony ended.

The final two nods went to Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR's other seven-time champion, and Junior Johnson, a former driver and car owner whose early days stands as a symbol of NASCAR's start.

Pearson's exclusion surprised many, including Petty.

"That wouldn't have been my pick," he said.

Decided upon by a panel of 50 NASCAR executives, journalists, former participants and one combined fan vote from NASCAR's official Web site, the voters had a list of 25 nominees to consider. Petty, who was not on the panel, said he made his own list and had Pearson as his top pick. Pearson won 105 races, second only to Petty's 200 victories on NASCAR's all-time win list.

"The same people don't like everybody," Pearson said. "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."

Petty and Pearson both won two NASCAR events at Augusta International Speedway, which was in operation from 1961 to 1969.