NASCAR Unveils 25 candidates for 2012 Hall of Fame class

Five names were added to the list of candidates for the class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012 that will be selected in June. By Jason Smith, Getty Images for NASCAR

Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Leonard Wood (right), shown celebrating with Richard Petty after wood's team won the Daytona 500 in February, is one of five new candidates for 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame.

By Jason Smith, Getty Images for NASCAR

Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Leonard Wood (right), shown celebrating with Richard Petty after wood's team won the Daytona 500 in February, is one of five new candidates for 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame.

H. Clay Earles, Bobby Isaac, cotton Owens, Les Richter and Leonard Wood will join 20 other nominees, replacing David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, Lee Petty and Bobby Allison — the class of 2011 will be introduced in May. The class of 2012 will be the first to be introduced in the pre-season as NASCAR move the ceremony in her shrine in uptown Charlotte to the list of candidates for January 2012The was selected by a nomination Committee 21-person composed of representatives of NASCARthe owners of NASCAR Hall of Fame and track.The Committee includes NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley. NASCAR Hall of Fame historian Buz McKim; NASCAR President/CEO Brian France. Vice President Jim French. Vice President Paul Brooks. President Mike Helton; Vice President of competition Robin Pemberton; Senior vice president of racing operations Steve O'Donnell. Jerry Cook competition administrator. ex vice [resident Ken Clapp; International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa Kennedy. Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage; Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark. former owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tony George. Dover Motorsports CEO Denis McGlynn; Owner Pocono Raceway Doc Mattioli; Bowman Gray Stadium operator Dale Pinilis; Riverhead Raceway operators Jim and Barbara Cromarty (1 vote). Toyota Speedway at Irwindale operator Jim Williams; and Rockford Speedway owner Jody Deery. The class of five will be voted on June 14 by a vote of 54-member Nominating Committee, media (including USA today), representatives of the manufacturer, ex-drivers, team owners and heads; and industry leaders. A voting fan (NASCAR.com) will represent a vote of 55.The newly appointed (of which, Owens and madeira remain alive) mostly pioneered off-track. Earles was the founder of Martinsville Speedway. Madeira is part owner of wood Brothers Racing and a former head of the team that has revolutionized pit stops. Richter Riverside International Raceway, worked in NASCAR competition Department and helped lead the opening of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, Owens was a driver and the owner who won the 1966 Championship owners with Pearson. Isaac won the Championship in 1970 and notched 37 WINS as a driver in NASCAR's premier series.The other 20 nominees are: Buck Baker (first rider to win consecutive titles). Red Byron (first NASCAR champion in 1949); Richard Childress (the car owner champion 1-time in NASCAR's three national series); Jerry Cook (six times champion NASCAR modified); Richie Evans (nine times champion NASCAR modified). Tim Flock (bi-champion). Rick Hendrick (the car owner champion 1-time in NASCAR's three national series); Jack Ingram (bi-national champion). Dale Inman (eight-time champion crew chief); Fred Lorenzen wins (26). Raymond Parks (first car owner champion). Benny Parsons (NASCAR champion 1973, TV analyst). Fireball Roberts (33 victories). T. Wayne Robertson (Executive R.J. Reynolds); Herb Thomas (first two-time champion). Curtis Turner (17-time winner); Darrell Waltrip (84 victories, three times champion). Joe Weatherly (bi-champion). Glen Wood (driver, co-owner of wood brothers). Cale Yarborough (three times).Indy to Mann: winner of the former Firestone Indy Lights Pippa Mann will attempt to qualify for the 100th Indianapolis 500 with Conquest Racing. Mann is the fourth woman confirmed as one of 42 entries for the race, but will become the first female British entry into the event. Mann sat on the pole for the Firestone freedom 100 last may at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and won in Kentucky last year. Burton, Caterpillar return: Richard Childress Racing has renewed its business with no. 31 Caterpillar main sponsor and driver Jeff Burton, who agreed to a multi-year extension with the team he joined in 2004. RCR has three of his four riders in long-term promotions; Clint Bowyer remains unsigned for next season.For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ. To report corrections and clarifications, contact standards Editor Brent Jones. For consideration of publication in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and State for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections usatoday.com. We've updated the guidelines of the conversation. Changes include a brief review of the moderation process and an explanation of how to use the "report abuse" button. Read more.