Matt Kenseth, Kirk Shelmerdine, Mike Helton, Hershel McGriff latest inductees; A.J. Foyt misses the cut.
Depending on your perspective, there were plenty of surprises when NASCAR selected and unveiled the Class of 2023 into its Hall of Fame on Wednesday afternoon in uptown Charlotte.
Perspective, of course, could mean there were no surprises at all. After all, one man’s surprise is another man’s shoulder shrug.
Long-time NASCAR executive Mike Helton received the organization’s Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. He fairly easily beat Janet Guthrie, Lesa France Kennedy, Alvin Hawkins, and Dr. Joe Mattioli on the five-person ballot. That was about the only lead-pipe cinch of the day.
Long-retired Hershel McGriff was selected from the five-person “Pioneer Era” ballot for nominees whose careers began more than 60 years ago. A relatively new category, the Oregon native was the Voting Panel’s choice over A.J. Foyt, Ralph Moody, Banjo Matthews, and Sam Ard. Some voters thought Foyt might be named, but others thought his NASCAR resume was too thin.
And Matt Kenseth and Kirk Shelmerdine were selected on the “Modern Era” ballot for racers whose careers began after 1970. Kenseth and Shelmerdine outpolled Tim Brewer, Harry Hyde, Neil Bonnett, Carl Edwards, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Burton, Harry Gant, and Larry Phillips. Kenseth was almost a no-brainer; some voters thought Shelmerdine’s distance from his glory days might hurt him.
Kenseth was named on 69% of the ballots and Shelmerdine earned 52% to top the Modern Era ballot. Other top vote-getters (in order) were Harry Hyde, Neil Bonnett and Harry Gant. Rudd was thought to be a popular choice, but got almost no support during the process.
Hershel McGriff is the definition of a NASCAR lifer. He started a NASCAR K&N Series race at the age of 90 and his last Cup Series race at 65.
Steve DykesGetty Images
Hershel McGriff
McGriff was the lone selection from the group of five nominees on the Pioneer Ballot, drawing 31% of the vote. Foyt and Banjo Matthews were the other highest recipients of votes, in that order.
The selection of McGriff, Shelmerdine, and Kenseth brings to 61 the number of inductees into the Hall. The Voting Panel took five nominees a year for its first 11 years, then three a year in 2020 and again this year. (Because of the pandemic, there was no selection in 2001).
Mike Helton, right, was NASCAR’s eyes and ears in the garages during his time leading the series.
Jerry MarklandGetty Images
Mike Helton
Helton has been a trusted and valued NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. executive for more than three decades. He has served in various administrative and competition roles, as well as head of Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. He is the only person outside the France family to ever serve as president of NASCAR.
Kirk Shelmerdine, right, was a racer and Dale Earnhardt’s crew chief for 46 wins and four Cup championships.
RacingOneGetty Images
Kirk Shelmerdine
Shelmerdine was a quiet, soft-spoken, low-key, often-underappreciated native of Philadelphia during his years as crew chief for four of Dale Earnhardt’s six Cup Series championships. He and team owner Richard Childress won in 1986-1987, then again in 1990-1991. (Doug Richert led the 1980 team that won with owner Rod Osterlund). All told, Shelmerdine won 46 races as crew chief for Earnhardt and two more for Ricky Rudd;
Matt Kenseth won one race, but played the points game to perfection, on his way to the 2003 NASCAR Cup championship.
Al MesserschmidtGetty Images
Matt Kenseth
Kenseth was a fairly comfortable first-ballot choice from the “Modern Era” ballot. His career stats are certainly Hall-worthy: 20 poles, 39 Cup Series victories, two Daytona 500 victories, the 2003 Cup Series championship with owner Jack Roush, the 2000 Cup Series Rookie of the Year award, winner of 29 Xfinity races, and 13 top-10 Cup points seasons.
The Class of 2023 will be inducted on Friday, January 20 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Past Classes
The 58 previous HOF inductees, beginning with the inaugural Class of 2010:
2010: Bill France, Bill France Jr. Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Junior Johnson;
2011: Bud Moore, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Lee Petty, and Ned Jarrett;
2012: Glen Wood, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Dale Inman, and Richie Evans;
2013: Leonard Wood, Rusty Wallace, Herb Thomas, Cotton Owens, and Buck Baker;
2014: Fireball Robert, Dale Jarrett, Jack Ingram, Tim Flock, and Maurice Petty;
2015: Rex White, Joe Weatherly, Wendell Scott, Fred Lorenzen, and Bill Elliott;
2016: Curtis Turner, Bruton Smith, Terry Labonte, Bobby Isaac, and Jerry Cook;
2017: Benny Parsons, Raymond Parks, Mark Martin, Ron Hornaday, and Richard Childress;
2018: Robert Yates, Ken Squier, Ray Evernham, Red Byron, and Ron Hornaday;
2019: Jack Roush, Roger Penske, Alan Kulwicki, Davey Allison, and Jeff Gordon;
2020: Bobby Labonte, Joe Gibbs, Tony Stewart, Waddell Wilson, and Buddy Baker;
2021: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mike Stefanik, and Red Farmer.
2022: No Inductees (Pandemic)
Keyword: Plenty of Surprises in NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2023