Who Among Today's Drivers Will Make Hall of Fame?

#1
rbroyles

rbroyles

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#1
The opening of the Nascar Hall of Fame brought to mind a question; which of the active drivers should make the list in the future. Remember, the Hall of Fame covers all Nascar, not just Sprint Cup.

Shoe-ins: Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott.

Very Possible: Jeff Burton (needs to win Champ), Bobbie Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle (Shoe-in if he wins a Cup Champ), Geoff Bodine (Modified Div), Jamie Tomaino (Modified Div). Ron Hornaday (Truck Div)

Potential: Denny Hamlin (needs to win a couple Champs), Kurt Busch (needs to win more races), Jimmy Spencer (Modified Div), Kyle Busch (if he ever learns consistency).

Who would you add or where am I wrong?
 
#2
#2
Gordon, Johnson, Stewart, and Elliott are locks. I believe Mark is a lock too, but a career of being a bridesmaid may hamper the judging. Hornaday is a lock for the Truck Series.
 
#3
#3
rbroyles said:
The opening of the Nascar Hall of Fame brought to mind a question; which of the active drivers should make the list in the future. Remember, the Hall of Fame covers all Nascar, not just Sprint Cup.

Shoe-ins: Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott.

Very Possible: Jeff Burton (needs to win Champ), Bobbie Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle (Shoe-in if he wins a Cup Champ), Geoff Bodine (Modified Div), Jamie Tomaino (Modified Div). Ron Hornaday (Truck Div)

Potential: Denny Hamlin (needs to win a couple Champs), Kurt Busch (needs to win more races), Jimmy Spencer (Modified Div), Kyle Busch (if he ever learns consistency).

Who would you add or where am I wrong?
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Greg Biffle gets in because he has a truck title and 14 wins over Kurt Busch who has 21 wins and a Sprint Cup? Busch also has more wins and an equal # of Cups to Kenseth.

obviously i'm comparing a few to Busch because he happens to be a driver i like, but i think the list of Shoe-ins is correct. however, i think a case could be made, when it's all said and done, for all those other drivers too.

to me, leaving it open to ALL of NASCAR, is way to objective to judge. the Hall of Fame should be left for those who transcend their sport. i think it's nice to honor the guys who build the sport on a grass roots level, because with out them, the great drivers wouldn't have anywhere to start. but i don't see how you can induct a Jimmy Spencer into a HOF that also is home to guys like Petty and Earndhardt.
 
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#4
#4
All sound good, RB, but the modified guys are out for the immediate future if they want a tourist attraction....right, no, but JMO.

My uncle raced against the Spencers up here, and he said Jimmy was the only one worth a crap as a person, says alot about the clan imo.
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#5
#5
JTrainDavis said:
All sound good, RB, but the modified guys are out for the immediate future if they want a tourist attraction....right, no, but JMO.

My uncle raced against the Spencers up here, and he said Jimmy was the only one worth a crap as a person, says alot about the clan imo.
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I understand the Hall is to cover all divisions, that's why Jack Ingram and Hornaday were in the ceremony. I guarantee Ingram & Jerry Cook (modified champ 6 times) will be inducted sometime. Spencer is a possible, due to his success in Modifieds and winning in Cup.
 
#6
#6
doozer said:
Greg Biffle gets in because he has a truck title and 14 wins over Kurt Busch who has 21 wins and a Sprint Cup? Busch also has more wins and an equal # of Cups to Kenseth.

obviously i'm comparing a few to Busch because he happens to be a driver i like, but i think the list of Shoe-ins is correct. however, i think a case could be made, when it's all said and done, for all those other drivers too.

to me, leaving it open to ALL of NASCAR, is way to objective to judge. the Hall of Fame should be left for those who transcend their sport. i think it's nice to honor the guys who build the sport on a grass roots level, because with out them, the great drivers wouldn't have anywhere to start. but i don't see how you can induct a Jimmy Spencer into a HOF that also is home to guys like Petty and Earndhardt.
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Biffle also has a Nationwide title, if he wins a Cup title, which is my qualifying statement, he would be the first to win in all three divisions. Spencer really is more of a long shot I agree. But if you limit it to guys only at Petty & Earnhardt's level, it will be a small Hall.

I think Kennseth will end up with more wins and at least one more Cup Champ than Kurt due to being in a better ride. He also won a Busch Champ.

I think they should have inducted at least ten in the first class to include more of the pioneers like Pearson, Tim Flock, Fireball Roberts, Lee Petty, Curtis Turner, Red Byron, Ned Jarret, Smoky Unick and Buck Baker. I would hate to see those guys get put off to where they are forgotten and the DW's and Yarboroughs get in first.
 
#8
#8
rbroyles said:
But if you limit it to guys only at Petty & Earnhardt's level, it will be a small Hall.

I think they should have inducted at least ten in the first class to include more of the pioneers like Pearson, Tim Flock, Fireball Roberts, Lee Petty, Curtis Turner, Red Byron, Ned Jarret, Smoky Unick and Buck Baker. I would hate to see those guys get put off to where they are forgotten and the DW's and Yarboroughs get in first.
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that's my point about the HOF. it's supposed to be elite. it's supposed to be for the guys at a similar level to those two; names who are bigger than the sport.

i agree with 10 in the first class too.
 
#9
#9
I think some oldies like Cale Yarbrough, Petty, DW, etc

Also think guys like Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, etc would need to be in there
 
#13
#13
doozer said:
that's my point about the HOF. it's supposed to be elite. it's supposed to be for the guys at a similar level to those two; names who are bigger than the sport.

i agree with 10 in the first class too.
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I can almost promise you that if there were ten, that Rick Hendrick and Richard Childress would be included. Neither one should be ahead of those I mentioned, plus Wood Brothers.
 
#15
#15
rbroyles said:
I can almost promise you that if there were ten, that Rick Hendrick and Richard Childress would be included. Neither one should be ahead of those I mentioned, plus Wood Brothers.
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yeah, while those owners have been good, even great, there's no way they should be on the inaugural list of inductees.
 
#19
#19
I think Mark Martin is a lock due to his whole body of work in Cup and Natiowide. Before it's all said and done Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, and Harvick will probably put up the #s to get in before their careers are done. Depends on weather you have to win a championship to get in or not. What does everybody think about Bobby Hamilton as far as whole body of work? (Cup, Nationwide, Trucks, and an owner)
 
#20
#20
jhen713 said:
I think Mark Martin is a lock due to his whole body of work in Cup and Natiowide. Before it's all said and done Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, and Harvick will probably put up the #s to get in before their careers are done. Depends on weather you have to win a championship to get in or not. What does everybody think about Bobby Hamilton as far as whole body of work? (Cup, Nationwide, Trucks, and an owner)
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As far as having to win a championship to get in - already have Junior Johnson in without one. Some other first year nominees didn't have one. In all your examples it will depend on number of wins and/or champs.

I was a Bobby Hamilton fan, but I don't see him being in the HOF. Not enough wins or champs.
 
#22
#22
jhen713 said:
I think Mark Martin is a lock due to his whole body of work in Cup and Natiowide. Before it's all said and done Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, and Harvick will probably put up the #s to get in before their careers are done. Depends on weather you have to win a championship to get in or not. What does everybody think about Bobby Hamilton as far as whole body of work? (Cup, Nationwide, Trucks, and an owner)
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I can't imagine any scenario where BH gets in the HOF.
 
#23
#23
I agree with everyone on drivers but what does everyone think about crew chiefs getting in?

Who do you think and should they only be judged by their driver's wins or some other criteria?

Dale Inman
Leonard Wood
Ray Evernham
Chad Knaus
 
#24
#24
615 Vol said:
I agree with everyone on drivers but what does everyone think about crew chiefs getting in?

Who do you think and should they only be judged by their driver's wins or some other criteria?

Dale Inman
Leonard Wood
Ray Evernham
Chad Knaus
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I've already mentioned Smoky Yunick and the Wood Brothers. Dale Inman is a possibility, Evernham doubtful, Knaus a maybe if he should win most championships.

I don't know how you would judge them other than wins and championships. Inman could get in for having most wins of any crew chief, plus his innovations such as the window net.
 
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