By ZECH YODER
Last Wednesday, the 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class was announced.
This year’s ballot included drivers such as Donnie Allison, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant, Jimmie Johnson, and Ricky Rudd, as well as crew chief Chad Knaus and various other drivers, owners, crew chiefs, and mechanics.
Of those on the ballot, three would be selected. The 57-member Hall of Fame Voting Panel selected Donnie Allison and to no surprise, first ballot nominees Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus. Controversy erupted, however, when it was revealed that Jimmie Johnson was not a unanimous selection, receiving 53 of the 57 panel votes.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame opened in 2010 with a class of five members. Included in that class were, of course, seven-time champion drivers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, along with NASCAR founder, Bill France, Sr., and his son, Bill France, Jr. Since its opening, including the Class of 2024, The Hall of Fame has inducted 64 individuals. As of today, none were unanimous selections. Not Richard Petty. Not Dale Earnhardt. Why then is it so controversial that Jimmie Johnson was not a unanimous selection?
Naturally, it is a matter of competition. As stated above, the first class inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame was in 2010. Twenty-five individuals were nominated for that first class. Twenty-five of the best and most influential figures in NASCAR history. Petty, Allison, Waltrip, Earnhardt, Pearson, France (father and son), Jarrett (father and son). The best of the best. In fact, every person nominated in the first class has subsequently been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Thus, because of the number of nominees and the quality of the candidates, it is unsurprising that Petty and Earnhardt were not unanimous choices. Who was more deserving, Petty or Pearson, Waltrip or Earnhardt? The panel ultimately put in two seven-time champions, though there may have been some discrepancy on such a large list of NASCAR greats.
Compare the decision in 2010 with the decision in 2024. Jimmie Johnson is a seven-time Cup Series Champion. Jimmie Johnson is the only driver in history to win five championships in a row (two more than Cale Yarborough). Jimmie Johnson has 83 Cup Series wins. Jimmie Johnson has won all the NASCAR crown jewel events (Dayton 500, Coca Cola 600, Southern 500, Brickyard 400) at least twice. Jimmie Johnson accomplished all of this in the span of 18 years in arguably the most competitive era of NASCAR.
Which of the nominees are more deserving than Jimmie Johnson? None of the other 2024 driver nominees won one championship, let alone seven. Jimmie Johnson more than doubles the win total of the next closest driver, Carl Edwards (28). Jimmie Johnson is literally in a class of his own.
Who on the list of nominees is more deserving than Jimmie Johnson? The answer is none.
Yes, Jimmie Johnson is now a Hall of Fame and made on in on the first ballot. There is, however, no explanation for not having a unanimous decision. Although not critically damaging, Last Wednesday’s vote does draw into question the credibility of the voting members of the Hall of Fame committee and panelists.
Zech Yoder is a local resident, an attorney at Adler Attorneys in Noblesville, and a lifelong race fan.