Petty is a Hall of Fame lock. His staggering 200 career victories, 123 poles, 10 consecutive wins and seven Daytona 500 victories are all records. He remains involved in the sport by helping run a race team, now called Richard Petty Motorsports.

The nominating committee included all areas of the sport in choosing the candidates.

France and his son, both deceased, help create NASCAR, and the France family still runs the enterprise. Benny Parsons and Ned Jarrett were successful drivers-turned-broadcasters. Richie Evans became a star racing modifieds. Joe Weatherly went from dominating modified racing to winning two Cup championships.

The drivers cover all the sport's eras. Red Byron won NASCAR's first sanctioned race in 1948 on Daytona's beach course. Buck Baker was the first driver to win consecutive points titles in 1956-57. Lee Petty won the first Daytona 500. Roberts, Tim Flock, Herb Thomas and Curtis Turner were other early stars nominated.

Johnson, who honed his skills racing souped-up cars to stay out of reach of the police in the North Carolina hills, won 50 races before becoming a successful car owner. Waltrip won his three Cup titles working for Johnson before embarking on a broadcasting career.

Pearson starred in the 1960s, winning three championships. His 105 career wins are second overall. Waltrip and Allison are tied for third with 84 wins each. Yarbrough dominated much of the 1970s, winning three consecutive Cup titles and amassing 83 career wins.

Several drivers and owners, including Richard Petty, have donated items to the Hall of Fame. The facility, under construction since early 2007, will include 40,000 square feet of exhibit space, a theater, racing simulators, restaurants and retail outlets.