Some differing opinions on Hall of Fame's second class

The 2010 inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be enshrined in May, but who should the voters select as the second class for 2011? NASCAR.COM staff members have selected the five they think deserve the honor.

Mark Aumann

Bruton Smith

MY BALLOT
• Bobby Allison
• David Pearson
• Lee Petty
• Bruton Smith
• Cale Yarborough

If the France family has provided NASCAR's melody and harmony the past six decades, O. Bruton Smith is its counterpoint. If not for Smith's insight and vision -- and willingness to defy the France aristocracy -- it's difficult to imagine where the sport would be today. Race tracks as entertainment destinations, luxury boxes and racing under the lights can all be mainly attributed to the foresight of this Charlotte entrepreneur. Smith and Charlotte Motor Speedway are inextricably linked in history, and under his guidance, Speedway Motorsports Inc. has grown to become a true rival of International Speedway Corp. David Pearson not making the first Hall of Fame class was a surprise, but the biggest travesty was that the Smith wasn't even on the ballot.

Jarrod Breeze

Bud Moore

MY BALLOT
• Bobby Allison
• Dale Inman
• Bud Moore
• David Pearson
• Lee Petty

Lee Petty could best be categorized as NASCAR's first true superstar. His 54 wins are most of any driver who drove exclusively in the pre-modern era. He became the first driver in the early days of NASCAR to win three championships. But perhaps Petty's greatest accomplishment is how he went about his business: as a one-man show. For each of his titles, Petty drove his own car and was his own crew chief. No one else did that before or since. And won't.

David Caraviello

Rick Hendrick

MY BALLOT
• Bobby Allison
• Rick Hendrick
• David Pearson
• Darrell Waltrip
• Cale Yarborough

Why Rick Hendrick? Don't give me this tripe about how he's still active, so he should wait to get in. For owners, the rules are different. And Hendrick's body of work to this point -- nine Cup championships and 12 NASCAR national-series crowns overall -- is without question worthy of enshrinement. This guy runs an organization that is the gold standard on the Cup level, a team that began as a modest shop on a hilltop and has grown to employ more than 500 people. Hall selection should come on the basis of merit, and nothing more. You pick the five most worthy people every year. And in 2011, Rick Hendrick absolutely belongs in that group.

Bill Kimm

Ned Jarrett

MY BALLOT
• Bobby Allison
• Ned Jarrett
• David Pearson
• Lee Petty
• Cale Yarborough

A sport based on driving and only two of the five in the inaugural class are being enshrined for their skills behind the wheel? Well, with the essentials in, now the voters can focus on the ones that built this sport -- the drivers. Pearson, Yarborough, Allison and Petty are no brainers but I might get some heat for Jarrett. His 50 wins and two titles are less than others who deserve to be in, but Jarrett, when he raced full time from '60-'65, was one of the best each week. He averaged a top-10 finish every season and finished no worse than fifth in points. Plus, Jarrett opened up this sport to my generation in his role as a broadcaster. The numbers might not be mind-blowing, but make no mistake, Jarrett is a major reason the sport is a success today.

Joe Menzer

Dale Inman

MY BALLOT
• Bobby Allison
• Dale Inman
• David Pearson
• Darrell Waltrip
• Cale Yarborough

In this well-appointed and very deserving "Year of the Driver" class, crew chief Dale Inman stands out as unique unto himself. Inman not only was the crew chief for Richard Petty during each of Petty's record seven championship runs, but after leaving Petty Enterprises helped Terry Labonte to his first championship while driving for owner Billy Hagan in 1984. Inman's eight championships as a crew chief are the most in NASCAR history, and the final one with Labonte and an entirely different group stamped his earlier Petty run with even more legitimacy.

Dave Rodman

Lee Petty

MY BALLOT
• Bobby Allison
• Dale Inman
• David Pearson
• Lee Petty
• Cale Yarborough

Without Lee Petty -- and of course his wife Elizabeth -- there wouldn't have been a Richard Petty or a Petty Enterprises. The elder Petty, a competent mechanic, superlative organizer and brutally effective driver, created a pathway that enabled his son to enter NASCAR's Hall of Fame in its inaugural class. But as one of the sport's founders, through his actions and support more than philosophically, Lee Petty also deserves induction. He was the first driver to win three championships in the current Cup Series. And in the series' first 11 years of existence, he finished in the top five in points every season, ultimately totaling 54 victories, ninth on the all-time list.

Chris Stanfield

David Pearson

MY BALLOT
• Bobby Allison
• Rick Hendrick
• David Pearson
• Darrell Waltrip
• Cale Yarborough

Shortly after last year's inaugural class had been announced, Richard Petty insisted that if he had been asked to fill out a ballot, David Pearson's name would have been the first one he wrote down. "Anyone who won 105 races and didn't make the cut, somebody ain't adding right. That's my opinion," Petty said. NASCAR's Hall of Fame is in its infancy by comparison (Major League Baseball inducted its first class in 1936) which is why it seems such a no brainer to narrow in on those nominees that have had the most success in the sport to date. With 105 wins in just 574 starts, the Silver Fox put up numbers during the span of 27 years that can only be eclipsed by Petty himself.

Raygan Swan

Richard Childress

MY BALLOT
• Bobby Allison
• Richard Childress
• Rick Hendrick
• David Pearson
• Cale Yarborough

Richard Childress, in my mind, still represents everything NASCAR was founded upon despite the ongoing social changes and corporate influences. Integrity, respect and family values are all traits that embody the long-time team owner and philanthropist who was recently recognized for creating the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. As a team owner for 40 years, he has a special knack for gambling on the dark horse drivers and turning them into proven champions. He was the first team owner to win championships in all three of NASCAR's national series and is tied with fellow team owner Rick Hendrick for most championships won overall. Childress is definitely one of the sport's more unique and interesting characters as he can discuss the finer points of a good merlot and why to use a decanter, but also tell you how to hunt and kill the "Dangerous Seven" in Africa. When you see Childress in the garage, he'll likely have pictures of them in a back pocket of his Wrangler's. Do ask to see them!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.