NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Announced

After a spirited debate by the voting panel, the newest class of inductees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2017 were announced Wednesday Afternoon in Charlotte. The new five member class will be inducted in a ceremony next January.

The inductees for the 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame class are:

Benny Parsons: One of NASCAR’s most popular personalities ever. Parsons was the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup champion as well as the 1975 winner of the Daytona 500. Parsons was the first driver in NASCAR history to qualify a car over the 200 MPH barrier. Parsons was often referred to the as the “voice of the sport” and served as an analyst for NASCAR’s coverage on NBC and TNT. Parsons died in 2007 at the age of 65.

Rick Hendrick: NASCAR’s most successful owner ever. Hendrick has amassed 242 career Sprint Cup Series wins as an owner as well as eleven Sprint Cup Series car owner’s championships – six with Jimmie Johnson, four with Jeff Gordon, and one with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte. Hendrick had 14 total NASCAR championships across all three of NASCAR’s top series.

Mark Martin: Widely regarded as the best driver to never win a championship. Martin amassed 96 career wins across NASCAR’s top three touring series and finished second a total of five time in the championship standings throughout his career.

Raymond Parks: NASCAR’s first true car owner in 1938 with drivers Lloyd Seay and Roy Hall. Paired with the legendary Red Vogt in the late 40’s and the early 1950’s saw Red Byron become the first NASCAR premier series champion in 1949.

Richard Childress: Childress purchased his first race car at the age of 17 for $20 and has never looked back. Childress, one of the most successful owners of all time, has amassed 105 Sprint Cup Series wins and six NASCAR Winston Cup car owner’s titles and 76 of those wins all with the late Dale Earnhardt.

2017 Landmark Award winner was H.Clay Earles. Earles is one of NASCAR’s original pioneers. Earles built and opened Martinsville Speedway in 1947 and to this day remains the only track to host Sprint Cup Series races since the series’ inception in 1949. Earles also introduced NASCAR’s most unique trophy in 1964 with every race winner at Martinsville winning a grandfather clock. That traditions remains today.