CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When NASCAR opted to keep its inaugural Hall of Fame class to five people, it put voters in a difficult position -- vote for pioneers of the sport, organizers of the sport or the best performers in the sport.

The voting panel opted Wednesday for the two men who led the sport for more than 50 years (Bill France and Bill France Jr.), the two men who won the most championships (Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt) and a legendary moonshiner who won races as an owner and driver (Junior Johnson).

The first class

Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Jr., Junior Johnson and Bill France Sr. will be enshrined in May 2010.

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"We wanted to make it a small enough group where it was special," said NASCAR chairman Brian France, son of Bill Jr. "There were 25 that were nominated. The fans got a vote in this. ... It is a great day for the sport."

Just missing the cut were some of NASCAR's greatest drivers, including David Pearson, who had 105 wins in 574 starts and who many consider the sport's greatest driver. Pearson, Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison were the top three vote getters who weren't in the top five.

"You had eight or 10 people that very much should have been in the first go-around," Petty said. "I just looked at some of us later stars, if it hadn't been for the Frances and a bunch of people that helped them, there wouldn't have been a Hall of Fame, a Richard Petty, a Dale Earnhardt. ..."

The differing opinions created a strange dynamic through the convention center, where the voters gathered earlier Wednesday to debate the nominees. Some of the voters described an emotional two-plus-hour meeting that was moderated by NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter. A presentation was made for each of the 25 nominees, and then the floor was opened for discussion.

"It was a meeting like I've never been in in racing, because I think everybody wanted to do the right thing and I think NASCAR was really nervous about the two Frances getting in," said voter Humpy Wheeler, longtime motorsports executive.

"There was definitely a division there of people who felt, 'Hey, let's get the guys in that started this thing first, and then we'll move on from there.' That was argued about."

NASCAR did not release the voting totals and said the order in which they were announced did not reflect the results. Brian France received the five envelopes one at a time from an independent accounting firm during the unveiling ceremony at the Charlotte Convention Center.

"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.

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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.