nascar Gordon headlines Hall of Fame voting

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Jeff Gordon’s immense influence on NASCAR was highlighted during a star-packed Hall of Fame induction ceremony befitting a driver who changed the trajectory of an entire sport.

Gordon was the top vote-getter in the 10th class of the Hall of Fame, which included the late drivers Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki, as well as team owners Roger Penske and Jack Roush. Gordon received 96 percent of the vote, falling just short of the Hall of Fame’s first unanimous selection, in his first year of eligibility.

This class was the first in which all five inductees competed against each other at the same time. Gordon made his Cup debut in the 1992 season finale, won by Kulwicki in part because Allison wrecked early. The stage was set for three new drivers to star in NASCAR and challenge Dale Earnhardt’s long reign of NASCAR dominance.

The following year, a pair of aviation accidents in a span of 102 days altered NASCAR permanently.

Kulwicki died in an April 1 plane crash returning to Bristol Motor Speedway from a sponsor appearance. Allison died July 12 when he crashed the helicopter he was piloting in the infield at Talladega Superspeedway, where he’d gone with Red Farmer to watch Neil Bonnett’s son test for his Busch Series debut.

Gordon had a quiet rookie year while Earnhardt went on to his sixth championship and added his seventh title the next season. Gordon eventually took Allison’s role as Earnhardt’s nemesis by dethroning him in 1995.

Gordon won four titles over seven seasons. Earnhardt never won another.

Gordon spoke at length of how good timing and lucky breaks aided his career, particularly when he was hired by Rick Hendrick to move to the Cup series in 1992.

“All the hard work, seizing the moment as often as possible in every good car I had a chance to drive, introducing myself to anyone I could, hoping and wishing that the right person or car owner saw enough in me to take a chance — and Rick Hendrick was that individual,” Gordon said.

“I’m so fortunate to have driven the best cars built by the best people and owned by the best owner in NASCAR.”

His induction into the Hall of Fame completes the famed No. 24 team as Hendrick and crew chief Ray Evernham are already members.