Write Turn: Fans still riled up over Hall column weeks later

Updated Oct. 24

Readers are still buzzing about the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and many have taken issue with my thoughts on who should have been in the first group of five, which in my mind should not have included Dale Earnhardt.

Let me reiterate my feelings on that decision. It doesn't mean I don't recognize Earnhart's accomplishments and the impact he continues to have on the sport more than eight years after his passing. He's one of NASCAR's icons and his persona transcended the sport.

My feeling, however, is that the first class should have included the sport's pioneers and personalities who literally laid the groundwork for guys like Earnhardt, David Pearson, Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough to come along and make their mark on NASCAR. As time goes on and the HOF grows, people like Red Byron will be forgotten while superstars like Earnhardt, et al will get their chance to be enshrined.

In fact, the France family –- Bill Sr. and Jr. –- should have just been enshrined without taking up two valuable spots in the first class.

Earnhardt is a slam dunk NASCAR Hall of Famer. But his inclusion in the first class will make it more difficult for those who came before him –- and truly paved the way for NASCAR to grow into the sport it is today -– to have their place in the Hall.

Some of you agree with that line of thinking and others, to put it mildly, don't.

So here's a sampling of comments from our readers as well as a few other items of interest on some minds:

From: Kevin Morris

This is the first time I've ever responded to an article by a writer on the Internet but I couldn't pass this one up. I'm not even a big fan of NASCAR but anyone knows the two best drivers in history are Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. What were you looking for? The Hall of History. It's called the Hall of Fame. Who cares about some no-name in the annals of history who won a race or two. So it may have been the first race. Look at the first class of the Baseball Hall of Fame. They were real players not historical figures who did something for the first time. I expect more from a sports writer. Don't be surprised when you see real drivers like David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Lee Petty, and that Herb guy who was in the movie Cars inducted into the second class instead this Red guy whoever he is. I'm sure you can tell I'm not a huge fan, but come on, any sports fan can pick the deserving inductees for the first class. They got it right! Glad you didn't have a vote.

From: Craig

If the first professional basketball Hall of Fame voting was held today, you wouldn't vote for Jordan or Magic?

From: Tony Bennett

Pete, never read your articles before and will never read another again. To say Earnhardt does not belong in the first class is like saying Bill France Sr. does not belong; Earnhardt was NASCAR before all the money got in the way of what stock car racing is all about.

From: John Darts

You missed the point in the voting for the HOF. The old timers will get in, but the first class had to be people who really impacted the sport. Now who has more championships? Who changed the perceptions of the fans most? Who drew people to the tracks? I assure you the [3 car] did all that and more! I was given one vote and was not unhappy with the results. This is the fans HOF and not the writers HOF. So please keep that clear in your head!

From: Daniel James

Thanks Mr. Pistone for agreeing that Earnhardt doesn't belong in the first HOF class. The pioneers should come first and just because he had a huge following doesn't mean he should go. I do have a little bias because I never respected how he drove with little respect for his competitors. I voted for Petty, Pearson, Johnson, Byron, and Raymond Parks. I feel that Parks had just as much to do with stock car racing's success as France did. France just got his way and became a dictator of NASCAR. It's a really controversial subject because all of the 25 deserved to be first class.

From: Doug

You hit it dead on Pete. Earnhardt was simply the emotional vote and this shouldn't have been about emotion or money but it was ... sadly it was. The first list should have been six not five 'cause there's no way Pearson didn't make it! I still can't believe it. C'mon the cat had 105 wins! Huh?

From: eman48

Pete, right, it should have been someone else. Dale Sr. is one of the greats but so is David Pearson and Buck Bake. Those guys helped pave the way for guys like Dale Sr., Jeff Gordon, etc.

From: Stanlet

You are right, and applaud you for taking what was surely an unpopular stand. You are not slamming Earnhardt simply the process of filling the hall. Dale is in the HOF hands down but the people who literally gave their lives to build the sport should have gone in way before any of the drivers who followed and reaped those benefits.

From: Twitty

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he's not sure who his crew chief will be next year. Who does Rick Hendrick have in the organization that could step in for Lance McGrew?

That's the question no one seems to have an answer for and quite frankly I'm still not sure McGrew isn't the right choice. There have been times when the two seem to be on the same page and other times the pair seems completely out to lunch. But is it worth starting all over again in 2010 for Rick Hendrick with someone new? Time will tell.

From: Billy

What are the chances next year's races will not only start at a better time but be more consistent in letting fans know when television coverage starts and when the actual race begins? I am so sick of tuning in to watch 90 minutes of pre-race before the actual race starts.

EVERY day race next year will take the green flag at 1:15 p.m. ET, so if you choose to watch the pre-race programming on FOX, TNT or ABC/ESPN, you can do so or simply tune in for the green flag at 1:15 on the East Coast. What a concept.