A.J. Foyt looking good, but predicting the next Hall of Fame class is no easy task.
Robert AlexanderGetty Images
There was a time when predicting the upcoming NASCAR Hall of Fame class was relatively easy. There was one big category, one ballot with 20 names, and the five nominees with the highest percentage of votes were selected.
No more. Things have gotten considerably tougher for the 65-person Voting Panel that will meet at 1:00 p.m. ET Wednesday in uptown Charlotte. Voting for the Class of 2023 should be completed by 2:30 p.m., with the results schedule to be revealed at a 5 p.m. press event. The induction ceremony will be next spring in Charlotte, several weeks before Speed Week 2023.
The inaugural class in 2010 featured Bill France, Bill France Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and Junior Johnson. (There was grumbling about France Jr. beating out David Pearson, but serious students of NASCAR politics weren’t surprised). From then through the 2020 class of Bobby Labonte, Joe Gibbs, Tony Stewart, Waddell Wilson, and Buddy Baker, the Voting Panel took five people from the 20-person nomination list.
Hall of Fame nominee Carl Edwards walked away from the sport at the top of his game.
Icon Sports WireGetty Images
The big change came with the 2021 class. HOF executives decided to make the Hall even more exclusive by reducing the number of inductees. The three nominees selected Wednesday will bring to 61 the membership in the Hall: five a year for its first 11 years, then three a year for the past two years.
“When we opened in 2010, we had to catch up on more than 60 years of NASCAR history,” NASCAR president Steve Phelps said at the time. “Our plan has always been to evaluate the process as the Hall matured. With 55 (now 58) of the sport’s greatest competitors enshrined, we felt the time was right to move to three inductees which will help maintain the high standard of enshrinement that’s been set.”
Said Winston Kelley, director of the Hall: “From the time I learned of the selection process NASCAR developed in 2009 and through the evolutions implemented as we gained valuable experience, I have been a huge proponent of our process. I feel our process is as strong as any Hall of Fame, sports and entertainment alike.
“I’m equally enthusiastic about these changes to our process and concur wholeheartedly that now is the right time to transition to fewer inductees and establish a process dedicated to NASCAR’s iconic pioneers.”
Ricky Rudd is up against some stiff competition in Charlotte.
Robert AlexanderGetty Images
Starting last year, the Voting Panel picked one candidate from a five-person “pioneer ballot” and two from the 10-person “modern era ballot.” Nominees who began with NASCAR more than 60 years ago are on the pioneer ballot; anyone with fewer than 60 years are on the modern ballot.
The Pioneer Ballot
This year’s pioneer ballot includes A.J. Foyt and Hershel McGriff, plus the late Sam Ard, Banjo Matthews, and Ralph Moody.
The Modern Ballot
The modern ballot includes Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Harry Gant, Matt Kenseth, Ricky Rudd, and Kirk Shelmerdine, plus the late Neil Bonnett, Harry Hyde, and Larry Phillips.
The Landmark Award
The five-person ballot for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR includes Janet Guthrie, Mike Helton and Lesa France Kennedy, plus the late Alvin Hawkins and Dr. Joe Mattioli.
Although his NASCAR resume isn’t as impressive as many of his other resumes, Foyt is among the unofficial favorites to lead the “pioneer” ballot on his first try. And it’s expected —again, unofficially—that Ricky Rudd will contend with Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, and Jeff Burton for one of the two “modern era” spots.
About the Voting Panel: similar to the United States Supreme Court, voters generally have a lifetime appointment as long as they play nice with their colleagues. Everyone has an agenda, and lobbying and arm-twisting are allowed within strict limits of decorum and civility.
The panel is comprised of representatives from every level throughout NASCAR, from the Hall of Fame, a dozen or so media members, track owners, industry leaders, and retired competitors. Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, and 2021 champion Kyle Larson also get a vote. A fan ballot on NASCAR.com served as the 65th vote; it ended over the weekend.
Keyword: NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Is Wednesday: Who Looks Good on Class of 2023 Ballot