Smack: Toyota's big gain, Chevy's loss, Hall at a draw (cont'd)

2. NASCAR has announced the 25 finalists for its inaugural Hall of Fame class. Who are the five who get in next year?

Duane Cross: Bill France and Richard Petty are unanimous -- after that, the debate begins.

Joe Menzer: OK, this one is easy: 1. Big Bill France. 2. Lee Petty. 3. Richard Petty. 4. Bill France Jr. 5. Duane Cross. Now can I have that raise, please?

Duane Cross: Ha! Umm, I'll submit it to HR ...

Joe Menzer: Actually, in all seriousness, I think the fourth and fifth slots come down to David Pearson and Dale Earnhardt. And I guess you could consider pitting Bill Jr. vs. Lee Petty for the other available slot, and move the losers of both those matchups to class No. 2.

David Caraviello: OK, let me say this, right off. I don't like this "25 finalists" thing one bit. It's way too many, and given that so few guys are actually going to be inducted each year, it's wrong to get fans' hopes up. I mean, look at a guy like Red Byron. There's somebody who clearly deserves to be in, who overcame more than maybe any other elite professional driver ever, but he has no shot. No shot. And putting him on a list of "finalists" is a little unfair. It may take the dude a decade to get in. Let's cut the finalist list to a more manageable 10, and so at least those in the running have a realistic shot to make it that year.

Duane Cross: At least Red drove in a national touring series race. Richie Evans did not, and made the list.

David Caraviello: Be careful, Duane. You don't want to tick off the modified crowd. I learned that the hard way. They think every driver in a mod car has the talent of Michael Schumacher.

The nominees are ...

The 25 nominees for the 2010 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class have been announced. NASCAR fans collectively will represent one of the 51 ballots on the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Committee through voting on NASCAR.COM.

• Hall of Fame nominees
• Sign up to vote!

Joe Menzer: I want to know how you can have 25 finalists and not have Bruton Smith, Harold Brasington or some media type -- I've always said Barney Hall should go in early -- represented.

David Caraviello: Don't get me started on Harold Brasington, Joe. I really believe the industry has forgotten the man existed.

Joe Menzer: Whether you like him or not, Bruton Smith certainly should have been on that list of 25 "finalists." Although I agree with David that a list that long is too bloated to begin with.

Duane Cross: I was surprised no one from the media was included on the list -- Barney Hall being 1A. And as much as I liked Benny Parsons, I could more so make the case for Bruton Smith or Humpy Wheeler.

Joe Menzer: Yeah, that's not right. Barney definitely belonged on the list of 25.

David Caraviello: Maybe they'll have a media wing one day, like baseball does. That's not an issue now. Fans aren't going to make the pilgrimage to uptown Charlotte to see a media guy get inducted.

Duane Cross: No, they won't -- but they will hear the voices, and there should be something that tells their stories, too.

Joe Menzer: I would perhaps argue that Barney Hall should be up there at least in the top 15, in fact. And I think you are wrong, David. Fans don't care about guys like you and me in the media, but guys like Barney Hall are a different animal altogether. The guy is an icon. NASCAR fans everywhere love and identify with him. By the way, basketball also has a media wing. I'm not certain, but probably football, too.

David Caraviello: Sorry, in the inaugural season at least, this thing is about competitors first. I was at the football hall of fame on Monday afternoon -- had some time to kill in the greater Canton-Akron area -- and all they have is a plaque in the front lobby naming annual media award winners. That's all they need.

Joe Menzer: Well, if it's about competitors first, then you'd have to say that aside from Big Bill, they should put in Richard Petty, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison and/or Darrell Waltrip. They won the most races and titles. So David, are you saying a guy like Will McDonough shouldn't be honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? I disagree. They are part of it, just as in baseball the writers and broadcasters become part of it.

David Caraviello: Joe, Will McDonough is not "honored" in the pro football hall. His name is one of many on a plaque near the ticket booth. As for the NASCAR hall, I think right now Bill France Jr., Richard Petty and Earnhardt are the only locks. The other two are going to be wild cards. Pearson and DW would probably be my picks, with the influence Darrell has had in his TV role giving him a slight edge over Allison.

Duane Cross: It cannot be about who won the most races or titles -- the sport is vastly different today. David, I can guarantee you that Earnhardt will not be unanimous. And D.W.'s announcing career will not be a factor in my decision. Now, Earnhardt most likely will get in this year -- but it will not be unanimous.

Joe Menzer: One minute Caraviello says the media doesn't matter, and the next he's saying it's a tie-breaking factor in getting D.W. in! Who's been drinking this morning?

David Caraviello: Duane, then people need their heads examined. This sport has two seven-time champions and two icons, the King and the Intimidator, and they are no-brainers. And if you don't think Darrell's post-racing broadcast career has played a role in expanding the popularity of NASCAR, you're kidding yourself.

Duane Cross: Then get me an appointment; I am of the mind-set that the inaugural class should be about those who built the sport from the ground up.

Joe Menzer: But David, earlier you said that the media, which plays such an important role in expanding the popularity of the sport, should not even be considered for anything. Which is it? Or are you saying only guys who were former competitors and then went into the media should carry more weight than media members who popularized the sport? I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous.

David Caraviello: Joe, please. DW is an ex-driver in the booth. I don't tend to see Darrell in the chow line with you and me. If you don't think Waltrip's reach as the best racing color man ever greatly extends beyond anything else almost anyone else in NASCAR does from a media perspective, you guys are living in denial.

Joe Menzer: The only thing I'm denying is that I've been drinking. I have not!

Duane Cross: I'll let you tell Tom Higgins that he doesn't have a place in the Hall, which should be a place where the entire sport is represented. And I'll argue Ned Jarrett vs. D.W. any day of the week. Ned never pimped a rodent, dude. That alone puts him ahead of the caricature that D.W. has become.

Joe Menzer: Amen, brother. And there are many others.

David Caraviello: My goodness, you guys are hitting the Old Style hard already. Have you watched any NASCAR on television since 1985?

Joe Menzer: Did you go back and watch any tapes of races before 1985?

David Caraviello: What's a tape? Do they have it on Blu-Ray?

Duane Cross: Again, this is why the Hall needs a media wing -- to educate the young'uns! (Continued)