Emotions high as differing opinions rock the vote (cont'd)

"The mood of the room clearly shifted a couple times," said Landmark Newspapers reporter Dustin Long, the president of the National Motorsports Press Association. "It was very dramatic shifts, and it dealt with the France family."

France Sr., widely known as "Big Bill," began as a promoter of beach racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., until he gathered several principals at the Streamline Hotel to form a governing body that became NASCAR.

Class of 2010

Relive the moment as Brian France reveals the five who received the inaugural vote.

• Selection 1: Bill France Sr.
• Selection 2: Richard Petty
• Selection 3: Bill France Jr.
• Selection 4: Dale Earnhardt
• Selection 5: Junior Johnson
• Watch entire ceremony

Regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of American motorsports, he ruled with an iron fist from NASCAR's first race in 1949 until his 1972 retirement, when he handed control over to his son, Bill Jr.

"Billy" France led NASCAR through a period of extreme growth and was at the helm as the sport began to push past its Southern roots to become a national series. He held the top role until 2000, when he handed control to current president Mike Helton as he battled cancer.

But France Jr. stayed on top of the family business as chairman of a newly created board of directors, a position he held until turning leadership over to his son, Brian, in 2003.

Petty won seven Cup championships but is perhaps best known as an ambassador for the sport. He was and is a fan favorite, both during his winning days and now as a team co-owner.

"It feels good," Petty said. "I felt like this was a race, then you feel good finishing ... in the front five."

Earnhardt also won seven Cup championships, the first in only his second full season of NASCAR competition. His passionate driving style made him a polarizing figure for fans. Earnhardt died on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

Teresa Earnhardt made a rare public appearance, and invited almost everyone in attendance to a reception to celebrate her husband.

"Everyone who knew him respected him," she said. "I can't imagine how difficult it was to choose five. It's such an honor to narrow it down and include him."

Earnhardt's children did not attend the announcement but released a statement later that included reaction from Earnhardt's mother, brother, sister, and two of his four children.

"For what my dad achieved in this sport -- both on and off the track -- he certainly earned his place in history and deserves to be distinguished in this inaugural class of NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees," said his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. "It means a lot to the Earnhardt family, and it means a lot to my dad's fans, which I am one. He was the man, plain and simple."

“

He was the man, plain and simple.

”

DALE EARNHARDT JR.

Johnson was successful as a driver and an owner. Although he didn't win a championship as a driver, he won six titles as an owner, three by Cale Yarborough and three by Darrell Waltrip.

"This is a big, big deal to me," said Johnson, whose early days of running moonshine through backroads of North Carolina stands as a symbol of NASCAR's start.

"It's the greatest thing that's happened to me in this sport. I'm almost speechless to say that I am going into the Hall of Fame. You just don't know how it feels to be one of the five people selected to go into this first class. It's so big; it's so honorable."

Known as the "Silver Fox," Pearson ranked second only to Petty's 200 victories on NASCAR's all-time win list. The three-time Cup champion had a winning percentage of 18.2 percent in a career that spanned 27 years -- but never a complete season. Had he ever run a full schedule, many believed he could have challenged Petty's marks.

When asked if he was disappointed, Pearson said, "Not really."

"I told them before that I always heard that they wanted Junior in there, of course you know that Earnhardt and Petty are going to be in there, no doubt about it," Pearson said. "When I seen the two Frances went in, I knew I didn't have a chance."

The induction ceremony is scheduled to be May 23, 2010, the Sunday after the Sprint All-Star Race and about two weeks after the Hall opens in Charlotte.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.