William H.G. France - NASCAR Executive, NASCAR Hall of Fame

(b. 9-26-1909 – d. 6-7-1992) Hometown: Washington, D.C.

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 State Road 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.

Bill France Jr. - NASCAR Executive, NASCAR Hall of Fame

(b. 4-4-1933 – d. 6-4-2007)
Hometown: Washington, D.C.

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 NASCAR 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 Henry Getty France – who was known as Bill Sr., or “Big Bill” because of his 6-foot-5 stature. Bill Sr. was the founder and first president of NASCAR.

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.

Richard Petty - Driver, NASCAR Hall of Fame

(b. 7-2-1937)
Hometown: Randleman, N.C.
Competed: 1958-1992
Starts: 1,185
Wins: 200
Poles: 123
Top 5's: 555
Top 10's: 712
Laps Completed: 307,846
Laps Led: 51,695
Average Start: 10.4
Average Finish: 12.3

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 NASCAR Sprint 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.

See Petty's Career Stats at Racing-reference.info

Richard Petty Motorsports or 1800bepetty.com

Dale Earnhardt - Driver, NASCAR Hall of Fame

(b. 4-29-1951 - d. 2-18-2001)
Hometown: Kannapolis, N.C.
Competed: 1975-2001
Starts: 676
Wins: 76
Poles: 22
Top 5's: 281
Top 10's: 428
Laps Completed: 202,888
Laps Led: 25,360
Average Start: 14.5
Average Finish: 12.9

As Dale 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, either.

Earnhardt co-holds the record for most NASCAR Sprint 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.

See Earnhardt's Career Stats at Racing-reference.info

daleearnhardthalloffame.com or daleearnhardtinc.com

Junior Johnson - Driver/Owner, NASCAR Hall of Fame

(b. 6-28-1931)
Hometown: Ronda, N.C.
Competed [as driver]: 1953-1966
Starts: 313
Wins: 50
Poles: 46
Top 5's: 121
Top 10's: 148
Laps Completed: 52,183
Laps Led: 12,643
Average Start: 8.4
Average Finish: 17.0

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 NASCAR Sprint 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.

See Johnson's Career Stats at Racing-reference.info - Driver or Racing-reference.info - Owner

www.juniorjohnson.org