Who's got YOUR vote?

It’s time for the fan vote for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Collectively, we get one vote. Don’t ask me how that works. Rest assured, when I see Hall Director Winston Kelley and Historian Buz McKim next month, I WILL ask how that many people casting ballots can culminate in a single vote for this gang of 5.

Looking over the list of possible enshrines, we again bring up the issue of family enshrinement. The Woods, the Pettys, the Earnhardts, the Flocks.

After the nominees were announced a couple weeks ago, Mike Helton admitted that is something to look at in the future.

Really? Ya think, Mike?

And another thing. . .It may be a bit soon to be thinking about adding the likes of Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick. Now, before my friend Joyce Harmon in Proctorville, Ohio, threatens to whup up on me, there really is a reason.

Until they leave the sport completely, not just have their driving days behind them, the numbers are going to change every year. That means reworking their Hall displays every year to keep current. Of course, they may never retire from ownership, and if that’s the case, they’ll never see themselves enshrined.

This year’s list has a few omissions, according to me. MIA are:

Rex White, 1960 Grand National champion, who overcame childhood polio, is at age 81 the oldest living NASCAR champion. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame earlier this month. In 1960, he won 6 races and finished in the top 10 in 35 of 40 starts, in addition to being the series champion. When I met him four years ago, I found him soft spoken, gentlemanly and quite engaging. He is, as am I, a charter member of the NASCAR Official Members Club.

Wendell Scott broke the color barrier in NASCAR in March, 1961. In December, 1963, he was the first, and to this day, the only African-American driver to win a top NASCAR series race in the sport’s 58 years.

Now, who will get my vote? Don’t forget, voting is underway now at www.nascar.com

Consider WWDD? What Would Dale Do? He once said that when you think about NASCAR, certain names come immediately to mind. Petty. Earnhardt. Waltrip. Yarborough.

First, ‘ol DW get the nod from me, again. Did you see him at the announcement last year for the 2011 class? The Boogity Man was hurt deep inside not making it. But he was a trooper and kept broadcasting.

My next vote is for Bennie Parsons. Like DW, on the track he made a name for himself, and off the track he did the same.

On my list again is Tim Flock. And if Richard Petty is in the Hall, his crew chief and cousin Dale Inman should be too. Again, both should be a family entry.

My last pick? I have it down to four – Fireball Roberts, Glen Wood, Leonard Wood or Cale Yarborough.

Look over the list. Go to www.nascar.com to cast your votes.

Buck Baker - first driver to win consecutive NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series championships (1956-57)
Red Byron - first NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion in 1949
Richard Childress - 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
Jerry Cook - six-time NASCAR Modified champion
H. Clay Earles (NEW) - founder of Martinsville Speedway
Richie Evans - nine-time NASCAR Modified champion
Tim Flock - two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Rick Hendrick - 13-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
Jack Ingram - two-time NASCAR Busch (now Nationwide) Series champion
Dale Inman - eight-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series championship crew chief
Bobby Isaac (NEW) - 1970 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Fred Lorenzen - 26 wins and winner of the Daytona 500 and World 600
Cotton Owens (NEW) - driver-owner won 1966 owner championship with David Pearson
Raymond Parks - NASCAR's first champion car owner
Benny Parsons - 1973 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Les Richter (NEW) - former NASCAR executive; former president of Riverside International Raceway
Fireball Roberts - won 33 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series races including the 1962 Daytona 500
T. Wayne Robertson - helped raise NASCAR popularity as R.J. Reynolds Senior VP
Herb Thomas - first two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion (1951, 1953)
Curtis Turner - early personality called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"
Darrell Waltrip - 84 wins and three NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series championships
Joe Weatherly - two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Glen Wood - as driver laid foundation for Wood Brothers' future team success
Leonard Wood (NEW) - part-owner and former crew chief for Wood Brothers who revolutionized pit stops
Cale Yarborough - three consecutive NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series titles (1976 - 1978)

If you can’t go to ‘Dega, go to Ona

Time keeps ticking away, tick, tick, ticking away!

It’s time to drop the green flag at Ona Speedway, like this Saturday. Really. Racing alternating weekends from now through mid-September.

The rather historic site is the only paved oval track in the Mountain State and many NASCAR legends raced here back in the day, including Richard Petty. It’s pretty well-known in racing circles (no pun intended, really).

When I met NASCAR Hall of Fame Curator Buz McKim several years ago and told him I was from Huntington, W.Va., the first words out of his mouth were, “Really? Have you ever been to Ona Speedway?” Every time I see him, he wants to know what’s happening there. In fact, I’ll see him May 19 in Charlotte at the Official NASCAR Members Club Convention.

But I digress.

Opening night at Ona will be Saturday. Pits open at noon and General Admission gates open at 5 p.m., with races at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and children 7-years and younger are free. Racing classes are Hobby Stock, Elite Modified, U-Car and Classics.

You will be happy to know the long-promised permanent restrooms are completed and operational, owners Bill and Lynn Bauer say.

The all-volunteer staff at the Speedway is:
Jerry Skeens, Race Director.
Greg Hendricks, Creative Director and the man behind www.onawpeedway.com
Brian Adams, Sales and Marketing Director.
Bill Wallace, General Manager

New to the fans this year is a simple way to find out if race night has been rained out. It’s a website, www.rainedout.net search term Ona Speedway, Category Motorsports/Auto Racing. Or, you can call the track at 304-710-5650. But I think the website would be easier.

So, weather willing, get out and see some live racing this weekend. If you can’t go to ‘Dega, go to Ona.

How do drivers break up the monotony at a photo shoot? Why, punking your pals!

Do you have a sense of humor?

Ever wonder what constitutes "fun" with some of your favorite drivers? Do you think doing take after take for a sponsor can get, um, boring?

Mr. Popularity, Dale Earnhardt Jr., likes a good prank as much as the next guy.

Well, here, take a look.

Another Jeffy Shuffle?

I have to admit, chuckles still escape my mouth every time I watch this clip.



The Jeffy Shuffle? The Texas Tussle? It's just funny. We laughed at it then, we'll laugh at it now. The "fight" was amusing enough, but the long, deliberate walk of Gordon was, well, made you think, will they talk or throw a few punches. Jeff Burton? Fighting? Naw. Hey, I didn't really think Gordon could fight.

Wait, here's the NASCAR official film. You get to see that Banty Rooster walk.

Ouchie!

"Oh, man, this is gonna hurt." - Martin Truex Jr.

But it didn't. The Safer Barriers at Martinsville did their job. They absorbed the impact and nobody got hurt. Well, the cars got hurt, but not the drivers.



Wowee, what a hit. The folks in the stands Sunday felt the hit, I'm sure. But the NAPA KnowHow man said it didn't, surprisingly enough. After his car stopped, he jumped out and bounded to the RedBull Toyota of Kasey Kahne to check on him. And, he was OK, too.

Not gonna debate the obvious, "only if..." and Dale Earnhardt. You don't know if it would have made a difference.

But there is no doubt the sport is safer today after that dark day 10 years ago in Florida.