25 Hall of Fame nominees unveiled for inaugural class

Twenty-five of the sport's top names are eligible for the inaugural class to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in May 2010. NASCAR fans are invited to participate by voting for up to five nominees.

The Hall of Fame voting committee will hold a ballot to select the inductees. The top five nominees in the online fan voting will have a ballot cast in the nominees' favor during the selection process.

The Hall of Fame broke ground in Charlotte on Jan. 25, 2007, and will open May 11, 2010. The facility will honor the history and heritage of NASCAR and the many who have contributed to the success of the sport.

The 25 nominees for the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class:

Bobby Allison | Video Highlights
The 1983 Cup Series champion, Allison ended his career with 84 victories, tied for third on the all-time victory list with Darrell Waltrip.

A charter member of the "Alabama Gang," the longtime resident of Hueytown, Ala., has become one of NASCAR's most beloved former competitors, in large part because of his remarkable resilience after a career-ending accident at Pocono Raceway in 1988 -- just several months after he won the Daytona 500.

Allison continues to be cherished by the millions of fans who remember his long list of accomplishments, including:

• The 1983 championship season;
• Three (1978, '82 '88) Daytona 500 victories -- especially the third, when he beat his son Davey to the finish, earning what would be his last victory;
• Two NASCAR Modified Special Division titles, in 1962-63;
• Two NASCAR Modified Division championships, in 1964-65;
• And his fantastic 1972 season when, driving for another legend, Junior Johnson, he won 10 races and had 12 second-place efforts in the process finishing second to Richard Petty in points.

Fittingly, Allison was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.

• Allison's triumph, tragedy featured in 'Lives' DVD

Buck Baker
Elzie Wylie "Buck" Baker established himself as one of NASCAR's early greats, becoming the first driver to win consecutive Cup Series championships. That repeat performance in 1956-57 was the meat of an incredible four-year span; in 1955 and '58 Baker finished as the series championship runner-up.

The first series championship for Baker came while driving for owner Carl Kiekhaefer, who had assembled the first multi-car team in NASCAR while also blazing a trail in using his cars as promotional tools for his other business, powerboat motors. Baker's second championship came in his own cars.

Baker drove a bus before becoming an auto racer -- perhaps a partial explanation for his versatility behind the wheel, as he also won races in NASCAR's Modified, Speedway and Grand American series. But his legend was made in NASCAR's premier series; his career victory total of 46 ranks 13th all time.

Baker was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998. Prior to his passing in 2002, Baker blazed another trail, founding a series of high-performance driving schools at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway and North Carolina Speedway.

His son Buddy followed his father's footsteps as well, winning the Daytona 500 and also making the "50 Greatest Drivers" list.

Red Byron
Robert "Red" Byron was there at the outset, to say the least.

Byron won the sanctioning body's first race in 1948, on the Daytona beach-road course. He went on in '48 to win NASCAR's first season championship -- in the NASCAR Modified Division.

The following year he won NASCAR's first Strictly Stock title -- the precursor to today's Cup Series -- driving for car owner Raymond Parks. The Strictly Stock schedule had eight races; Byron won two of them.

Wounded in World War II, Byron drove with a special brace attached to the clutch pedal, to assist an injured leg -- making his accomplishments even more impressive. That injury contributed to Byron's relatively brief career, after which he continued to be involved in motorsports.

When he died in 1960 at the age of 45, Byron had branched out, striving to make more history, by developing an American car capable of winning the famed 24 Hours of LeMans sports car event.

In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers," recognition of a highly significant career, the relative brevity of it notwithstanding.

• Triumphant story of one man's will

Richard Childress
Long before he became one of the preeminent car owners in NASCAR history, Childress was a race car driver with limited means. Still, he persevered, which is what you do when you purchase your first race car for $20 at the age of 17.

Childress, the consummate self-made racer, was respectable behind the wheel. Between 1969-81 he had six top-five finishes and 76 top-10s in 285 starts, finishing fifth in the Cup Series point standings in 1975.

Having formed Richard Childress Racing in 1972, Childress retired from driving in '81. The rest, as they say, is history.

Much of that history is linked to one of NASCAR's greatest drivers, seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, who won six championships and 67 races between 1984-2000 for RCR.

But Childress has had other successes, as well. In addition to Earnhardt's championships, Childress drivers have given him five others. His total of 11 national series owner championships is tied with Rick Hendrick for the all-time lead. Childress was the first team owner to win championships in all three of NASCAR's national series.

Along the way, Childress has excelled off the track. He was one of the first owners to recognize the market potential for race team collectables. In recent years he established his own winery in North Carolina. And in 2008, Childress was recognized for his role in establishing the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

That $20 race car seems a light year away.

Dale Earnhardt | Video Highlights
As Earnhardt's black No. 3 grew larger in some unsuspecting leader's rearview mirror, so did the legend of the "Intimidator."

Earnhardt's passionate all-or-nothing driving style -- and modest everyman background -- made him a fast fan favorite. His dominance didn't hurt any, either.

Earnhardt co-holds the record for most Cup Series championships (seven) with Richard Petty. And his enormous success didn't take long to flourish.

In only his second full season, 1980, Earnhardt nabbed his first championship. After that, the crowns came in bunches. He won consecutive titles on three separate occasions (1986-87, '90-91 and '93-94). Earnhardt's 76 victories rank seventh all time.

Earnhardt won on the biggest stages. He is the all-time leader in race victories at Daytona International Speedway with 34, though the most prominent of them was a while in the making.

In 1998, Earnhardt won his most coveted race -- the Daytona 500. The scene was a memorable one, etched in the minds of race fans everywhere, forever. As Earnhardt's black No. 3 rolled down pit road, a Daytona 500 winner at last, every crew member from every team lined up to congratulate one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history.

• Remembering Dale Earnhardt

Richie Evans
The recognized "king" of Modified racing, Evans captured nine NASCAR Modified titles in a 13-year span, including eight in a row from 1978-85.

In the first year of the current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour format in 1985, Evans won 12 races, including a sweep of all four events at Thompson, Conn.

Nicknamed "The Rapid Roman," his career accomplishments included multiple track championships across the Northeast and hundreds of victories including a 37-win season during a stretch of 60 Modified races in 1979.

Evans, who was fatally injured on Oct. 24, 1985, during a practice crash at Martinsville Speedway, ranked No. 1 in the 2003 voting of the "NASCAR All-Time Modified Top 10 Drivers."

He also was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.

Tim Flock
A two-time series champion of the Cup Series, Flock was one of the sport's first dominant drivers.

Flock had 39 victories in only 187 starts. His victory total still ranks 16th all time. Flock won his first series title in 1952 while driving Ted Chester's Hudson Hornet. He had eight wins and 22 top-five finishes in 33 starts.

Flock won his second series title in 1955 while driving Carl Kiekhaefer's Chrysler. He dominated that season, posting 18 wins and 32 top-fives in 39 races. Flock's 18 wins stood as a single-season victory record until Richard Petty surpassed it with 27 wins in 1967.

In addition, Flock won NASCAR's only sports car race, in 1955, driving a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.

The entire Flock family raced at times during NASCAR's formative years. In 1949, brothers Bob and Fonty and sister Ethel joined Tim to become the only four siblings to drive in the same Cup Series race.

Flock, who died on March 31, 1998, was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" that same year.

• 'Super teams' have been around since the beginning

Bill France Jr.
William Clifton France is remembered -- and revered -- as the man who followed his visionary father at NASCAR's helm, in the process becoming a visionary himself, as he guided the sport to unprecedented levels of popularity.

He combined pragmatism with optimism, an approach that resulted in a calculated -- and adventurous -- road to success.

France, who died in June 2007 at the age of 74, grew up in the formative years of stock-car racing, living and learning every detail of the sport from his own experiences, and those of his father William H. G. France.

Bill France became NASCAR's president in January 1972, replacing his father and becoming only the second president of the world's largest auto racing sanctioning body. His emergence coincided with the sport's emergence, and its eventual ascent to become America's No. 1 form of motorsports and the nation's second-most popular sport overall.

France, often referred to as "Bill Jr.," remained president until November 2000, when Mike Helton took over the position. At that time, France announced the formation of a NASCAR board of directors on which he served as chairman and CEO until October 2003 when he was replaced by his son, Brian Z. France. After that, he continued to serve the sport for the remainder of his life as NASCAR vice chairman.

• Remembering Bill France Jr.

William H. G. France | Video Highlights
William Henry Getty France was called "Big Bill," and only partly because of his 6-foot-5 stature. He was larger than life it seemed, during the years of founding, then building, a sport. In the years since his 1992 death, his legend has grown, along with that sport.

France spearheaded NASCAR from its beginning and directed it to its present status as the world's largest stock car racing organization. Born in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 26, 1909, he came to Daytona Beach, Fla. in the 1930s.

In 1936 he helped lay out the first beach/road course in Daytona Beach; in the first race on the course he finished fifth. Starting in 1938, he helped promote races on the sands of Daytona Beach. That endeavor was interrupted by World War II but resumed in 1946.

In 1947 France became the driving force behind the establishment of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. NASCAR, it was called, resulting from a famous meeting at the Streamline Hotel on A1A in Daytona Beach -- a structure that stands to this day, as a racing landmark.

In January 1972, France stepped down as president of NASCAR and handed the reins to his son William C. France. The elder France continued to be a consultant for a number of years, in addition to serving as ISC chairman/president.

"Big Bill" France passed away in June 1992. He left behind a lasting legacy.

He remains larger than life -- still.

• Points system birth more elaborate than a napkin

Rick Hendrick
The founder and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick recently celebrated his 25th anniversary as a team owner. His organization is recognized as one of NASCAR's most successful. A longtime racing enthusiast and driver himself, Hendrick owned a championship drag racing boat team before founding "All-Star Racing," the team that would evolve into Hendrick Motorsports, in 1984. Hendrick's current Cup Series stable includes drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin.

Hendrick Motorsports owns eight Cup Series car owner championships titles -- four with Gordon, three with Johnson and one with Terry Labonte. Hendrick also has 11 total NASCAR national-series, car-owner championships, tied with Richard Childress for the most in history. Gordon and Labonte combined to win an unprecedented four consecutive titles from 1995-98. Gordon's four titles rank third on NASCAR's all-time list.

Some of NASCAR's most prominent drivers have driven for Hendrick. Geoffrey Bodine was the first, snaring the organization's first victory on April 29, 1984, at Martinsville Speedway. The late Tim Richmond, three-time series champion Darrell Waltrip and the late Benny Parsons, the 1973 series champion, also are Hendrick alumni. Ricky Craven, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Joe Nemechek and Kyle Busch are other well-known drivers who have driven for Hendrick.

Off-track, Hendrick is active in promoting awareness for leukemia research. He successfully battled the disease in 1996, establishing the Hendrick Marrow Program in 1997 to aid patients nationwide suffering from leukemia and 70 other blood diseases.

• Martinsville where it began 25 years ago for Hendrick

Ned Jarrett
Jarrett had it all -- hard-charging capabilities combined with the consistency essential to stock-car success. The combination produced two Cup Series championships. His 50 career victories are tied for 10th all-time with Junior Johnson. He also won 28 races during the 1964 and '65 seasons.

Jarrett won his first series title in 1961 while driving a Chevrolet for W.G. Holloway Jr. He finished with only one victory, but posted an impressive 34 top-10s in 46 starts.

In 1965, he won his second title while driving for DuPont heir Bondy Long, and despite a back injury sustained at Greenville, S.C., Jarrett finished with 13 wins and 42 top-fives in 54 starts that season. He also won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway by 14 laps, (17.5 miles), still the largest margin of victory in Cup Series history.

In addition to his immense success in the Cup Series, Jarrett also captured two championships in the Sportsman Division (1957 and 1958).

Nicknamed "Gentleman Ned," Jarrett's family includes son Dale, who won the 1999 Cup Series title.

Since retiring, the elder Jarrett has become one of NASCAR's greatest ambassadors. He's also considered instrumental to the sport's growth through his second career as a broadcaster. Now retired from broadcasting, he is especially remembered for the emotional call of his son Dale's 1993 Daytona 500 victory.

Ned Jarrett was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.

• NASCAR Families: The Jarretts

Junior Johnson | Video Highlights
Robert Glenn "Junior" Johnson is unique in NASCAR history, with tremendous success both as a driver and a car owner.

Johnson won the second annual Daytona 500 in 1960 and in the process, became credited with the discovery of "drafting" on the massive superspeedways.

He won 50 races in the Cup Series then surprised many people by retiring from driving to become an owner. As a competitor, Johnson never missed a beat; through the years his drivers won 132 races. There also were six series championships produced with Cale Yarborough (1976-78) and Darrell Waltrip (1981-82, '85).

Johnson was immortalized in the epic 1965 Esquire magazine story on NASCAR, written by acclaimed author Thomas Wolfe.

"The Last American Hero is Junior Johnson. Yes!" romanticized Johnson's moonshine-running roots and glorified his accomplishments in NASCAR. Both aims were true, creating a larger-than-life caricature of a colorful man.

Named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998, Johnson resides in Wilkesboro, N.C., and remains one of the sport's most enduring -- and endearing -- personalities, at the age of 78.

• A day with Junior: moonshine, ham 'n stories

Bud Moore
A decorated World War II infantryman, Moore became a successful Cup Series car owner almost immediately upon fielding a team in 1961. Moore won back-to-back championships in 1962-63 with Joe Weatherly. Earlier, in 1957, Moore -- who referred to himself as "a country mechanic" -- was crew chief for champion Buck Baker.

During 37 seasons in NASCAR's premier division, Moore's cars won 63 times and finished with 298 top-fives and 463 top-10s. Moore-owned cars have visited Victory Lane in most of the sport's biggest events including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500.

Moore's cars, both fast and dependable, attracted the sport's top drivers. They included Weatherly, Dale Earnhardt, Glenn Roberts, David Pearson, Billy Wade, Darel Dieringer, Bobby Isaac, Buddy Baker, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, Ricky Rudd and Geoffrey Bodine.

As a top performer among Ford's motorsports stable, Moore frequently was tapped to spearhead the company's other racing endeavors. Among his successes was the 1970 Sports Car Club of America championship with Parnelli Jones.

• The Commission: Inside NASCAR's appeals system

Raymond Parks
Raymond Parks is one of stock-car racing's earliest -- and most successful -- team owners.

Funded by successful business and real estate ventures in Atlanta, Park began his career as a stock-car owner in 1938 with drivers Lloyd Seay and Roy Hall.

His pairing with another Atlantan, mechanic Red Vogt, produced equipment good enough to dominate the sport in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Red Byron won the first Cup Series title in 1949 in a Parks-owned car.

Though Parks' team competed for only four seasons -- 1949, 1950, 1954 and 1955 -- his place in NASCAR history is secure. Parks' team produced two wins, 11 top-five finishes and 12 top-10s in 18 events.

Drivers Red Byron, Bob Flock and Roy Hall drove his cars during the 1949 season. Byron drove for him again in 1950. Fonty Flock drove for Parks in '54 and Curtis Turner drove for him in '55.

Parks retired from racing in the mid-1950s. He announced in March 2009 that he will donate his trophies to the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.

• NASCAR legend Parks to donate collection to Hall

Benny Parsons
An Ellerbe, N.C. native who called Detroit home after driving a taxi for a living during his years living in the city, Parsons won the 1973 Cup Series championship in one of the most dramatic fashions in series history.

Parsons could be called an everyman champion: winning enough to be called one of the sport's stars but nearly always finishing well when he wasn't able to reach Victory Lane. He won 21 times in 526 career starts but finished among the top 10 283 times -- a 54 percent ratio.

One of Parsons' biggest victories came in the 1975 Daytona 500. He also was the first driver to qualify a stock car at more than 200 mph (200.176) in 1982 at Talladega Superspeedway. He was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.

Parsons also was known as a voice of the sport making a seamless transition to television following his NASCAR career. He was a commentator for NBC and TNT until his passing on Jan. 16, 2007, at the age of 64.

• Remembering Benny Parsons

David Pearson | Video Highlights
The Silver Fox was the model of NASCAR efficiency during his career. With little exaggeration, when Pearson showed up at a race track, he won.

His 105 Cup Series victories ranks second all time, and he amassed that figure in only 574 races -- a winning percentage of 18.29.

In a career that spanned 27 years, Pearson never once ran every single race in a given season. When he came close to running the full schedule, he won a championship -- or came darn close.

In 1966, Pearson ran 42 of 49 races to win his first championship. In his '68 championship winning campaign, he ran 48 of 49 races. And in '69, he ran 51 of 54 en route to his third and final title.

His consistent greatness might best be defined by his 1974 performance, a season in which he did not win the championship. He finished third that year behind Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough -- but raced only 19 of 30 races.

Ranking second in wins and poles, Pearson's numbers are eclipsed only by Petty. Pearson won the Daytona 500 once (1976), but had six victories overall at Daytona International Speedway.

• Pearson career soars after Dieringer contract dispute

Lee Petty | Video Highlights
It took a while -- three whole days -- for officials to declare Lee Petty the winner of the first Daytona 500.

So in many ways, we have Petty to thank for the yearly spectacle that is the "Great American Race." That's because he created the very first spectacle.

On the final lap, Petty and Johnny Beauchamp barreled toward the finish line in what would become one of the closest finishes in the prestigious race's history. So close, in fact, that race officials put a hold on the results for three days. A photo snapped at the finish line confirmed Petty's win, his first in another championship winning season.

But that first Daytona 500 is only one of many Petty accomplishments. His career was a long list of "firsts" and "mosts." Along with winning the first Daytona 500, Petty was also the first driver to capture three championships in the Cup Series.

And up until the time his son Richard caught and passed him, Lee won more races than any other driver -- 54. That number still ranks ninth all-time.

But maybe his greatest legacy is his own name, and lineage. Petty, who started Petty Enterprises, is the father of Richard and the grandfather of Kyle Petty.

• Petty Enterprises: Modest beginnings to race royalty

Richard Petty | Video Highlights
Very rarely in sports do you find the all-time greatest competitor double as the all-time greatest ambassador.

But that's exactly what you get with Richard "The King" Petty.

The mountain of records he holds -- most of which will never be broken -- is one thing. But what Petty brought to NASCAR off the track during and after his long career cannot be measured by any numerical figures.

The countless autographs he signed and the hands he shook made him a fan favorite, and pushed NASCAR toward the front of the American conscience. Credit Petty for making NASCAR what it is today -- the most fan-friendly sport in the world.

But his on-track success cannot be ignored. His Cup Series records are staggering: most wins (200), most poles (123), tied for most championships (seven), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) and most starts (1,185).

Petty's success continued even after his retirement from driving in 1992. He would still hold the top spot in the family business -- Petty Enterprises, and now, Richard Petty Motorsports.

In all, Petty Enterprises totaled 268 victories before merging with Gillett Evernham Motorsports for the 2009 season to become Richard Petty Motorsports.

• Petty's 1967 Plymouth presented to Hall of Fame

Glenn "Fireball" Roberts | Video Highlights
Roberts, who got his legendary nickname from his days as a hard-throwing pitcher in high school, is perhaps the greatest driver never to win a NASCAR title.

He was arguably stock-car racing's first superstar, an immensely popular prototype for some of today's competitors who are stars on and off the track.

Of course, Roberts' fame was based on what he did when he got behind the wheel. During his career he often came up big in the biggest events, winning the Daytona 500 in 1962 and the Southern 500 in 1958 and '63. Overall he won seven races at Daytona International Speedway, starting with the Firecracker 250 in the summer of 1959 -- the year the speedway opened.

Roberts was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998; 40 years before that, he demonstrated a burst of greatness that is hard to fathom. He ran only 10 races in '58 but won six of them -- finishing 11th in the final Cup Series standings.

• NASCAR loses one of its stars in 1964 World 600

Herb Thomas
Thomas was truly one of NASCAR's first superstars. He was the first to win two Cup Series championships (1951, '53). He finished second in the points standings in 1952 and '54 giving the North Carolina veteran top-two championship finishes in four consecutive seasons.

He finished outside the top two in the championship only once (fifth in 1955) between 1951-56. Thomas won the '51 championship driving self-owned cars.

Thomas won the second running of Darlington Raceway's famed Southern 500 in 1951 and with back-to-back victories in 1954-55 was the race's first three-time winner.

Thomas won 48 times in series competition, a number that ranks 12th all time. His 48 victories in 228 starts equates to a series-record winning percentage of 21.05. Thomas won races in seven consecutive seasons from 1950-56.

After retiring from competition following the 1962 seasons, Thomas went on to start a trucking company and sawmill. He was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.

Curtis Turner
Called by some the "Babe Ruth of stock-car racing," Turner was among the fastest and most colorful competitors in the early years of NASCAR. Turner posted his first of 17 career victories in only his sixth start on Sept. 11, 1949, at Langhorne, Pa.

Although many of Turner's victories came on short tracks and dirt ovals -- much of his career pre-dated NASCAR's superspeedway era -- he won the 1956 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the first American 500 at Rockingham in 1965. He also won 22 races in NASCAR's Convertible Division in 1956.

Turner competed in NASCAR's first race in 1949 in Charlotte and was the only driver to win a Cup Series race in a Nash. He remains the only series driver to win two consecutive races from the pole leading every lap.

Turner drove for many legendary NASCAR owners including the Wood Brothers, Junior Johnson, Smokey Yunick and Holman-Moody.

Turner was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.

• Financial gamble pays off for 'greatest driver alive'

Darrell Waltrip | Video Highlights
A three-time Cup Series champion (1981-82, '85), Waltrip won all three with the legendary Junior Johnson. Waltrip is tied with Bobby Allison for third all-time in series victories with 84. He competed from 1972-2000, another highlight being his 1989 Daytona 500 victory in a Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet.

Waltrip's first series title came in 1981, when he finished with 12 wins and 21 top-fives in 31 races. He won the title by 53 points over Bobby Allison.

In his second championship season, 1982, he finished with 12 wins and 20 top-10s in 30 races, sweeping both races at four tracks (Nashville, Bristol, Talladega and North Wilkesboro).

In his third championship season, 1985, Waltrip finished with three wins and 21 top-10s in 28 races.

He was nicknamed "Jaws" during his career because of an outspoken demeanor. He currently is a commentator on FOX's NASCAR broadcasts. He was named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.

• Pride of NASCAR: Ol' D.W.

Joe Weatherly
Weatherly won two championships (1962-63) and 25 races in the Cup Series. But that's only part of his story, which is long on versatility.

A decade earlier in 1952-53, he won 101 races in the NASCAR Modified division, capturing that championship in '53. He even tried his hand in NASCAR's short-lived Convertible Division from 1956-59.

Weatherly was one of the first drivers who attracted fans to NASCAR as much for his personality as his racing ability, thus his nickname the "Clown Prince of Stock Car Racing."

When he won his first Cup Series championship, in 1962, he drove for legendary owner Bud Moore. When he repeated as champion a year later, he drove for nine different teams.

Weatherly was named one of the NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.

• In former hub of NASCAR, now only memories remain

Glen Wood
Wood laid the foundation for the famed Wood Brothers racing team as a driver in the Cup Series. Competing on a semi-regular basis, mostly at tracks close to his southern Virginia home, Wood won four times -- all at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

His best season was 1960 during which Wood won three times and posted six top-five finishes and seven top-10s in just nine races. He also won 14 poles during a 62-race career.

Wood, of course, is best known for his collaboration with brothers Leonard and Delano in Wood Brothers Racing. The Stuart, Va.-based team, which dates to 1950 and remains active, has amassed 96 victories. The team's all-time roster of drivers is a virtual who's who of NASCAR and includes David Pearson, Curtis Turner, Marvin Panch, Fireball Roberts, Dan Gurney, Tiny Lund, Parnelli Jones, Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Fred Lorenzen and Bill Elliott.

The Wood Brothers have excelled outside the NASCAR world as well, winning the 1965 Indianapolis 500 with Jim Clark.

• Pride of NASCAR: Wood Brothers

Cale Yarborough | Video Highlights
As competitive as the sport has always been, NASCAR has had very few dynasties. Yarborough's reign in the late 1970s, though, was one of them.

His string of three consecutive Cup Series championships from 1976-78 was unprecedented -- and unmatched until 2008, when Jimmie Johnson was crowned champion for the third consecutive year.

During his three-year dominance, Yarborough won 28 races -- nine in 1976, nine in '77 and 10 in '78. His final championship points margin in those three years was never fewer than 195 points, and was as much as 474 in 1978.

Those three years made Yarborough's career, but he enjoyed success before and after. The fiery competitor was the series championship runner-up in 1973 and '74 and again in 1980.

Yarborough totaled 83 victories in his 31-year career, and ranks fifth all time. And he won the Daytona 500 four times (1968, '77, '83-84), a mark that ranks second only to Richard Petty's seven.

When NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" list was compiled in 1998, suffice to say that William Caleb Yarborough was a shoo-in.

• Cale might have beaten Johnson at his own game

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