NASCAR Hall Of Fame Inductees Named

By ESPN

Ray Evernham, considered by many as one of the best crew chiefs in NASCAR history, and the first Cup champion Red Byron were selected to be among the five inductees into the 2018 NASCAR Hall of Fame class.

Joining them will be former car owner and engine builder Robert Yates, four-time Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday and broadcaster Ken Squier.

Evernham won three Cup titles and 47 races as a crew chief for Jeff Gordon. He left the team to lead Dodge's return to NASCAR Cup competition in 2001.

"It's just an overwhelming feeling," Evernham said. "I keep thinking back that that kid back in New Jersey that all he wanted to do is race and now you're telling me I'm going to be in the Hall of Fame with guys that have been my heroes so many years. I'm honestly just blown away."

Yates won 57 races as a car owner as well as the 1999 Cup title (with Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett). An innovative engine builder also was the engine builder for the 1993 champion Bobby Allison.

"I feel like I could take a jack and jump over the wall and I'd be on the right side [of the car] just like I used to," said the 74-year-old Yates, who is deep into a battle with liver cancer. "I can't jump that high, but I don't know if I am going to sleep tonight. I love this sport and I want this sport to do the same thing it did for me again and again and again. It has to keep us entertained."

Byron won the 1949 title, the first season of NASCAR and also won a NASCAR modified title.

Hornaday was the first star of NASCAR's truck series with 51 career wins in 360 starts.

"I kept thinking, 'You're on the ballot to get nominated, what are you going to do if you get in?'" said the 58-year-old Hornaday, who continues race on local dirt tracks. "It was like: I don't know, I haven't talked about it. I'm not old enough to sit on my rocking chair to say I'm fully retired."

Squier co-founded Motor Racing Network in 1970 and worked on NASCAR telecasts for nearly 30 years for CBS, TBS and ABC.

The five honorees appeared on the most ballots of the 54-member (including one combined online fan vote) panel, who could vote for five of the 20 nominees.

Yates was on 94 percent of the ballots, followed by Byron (74 percent), Evernham (52 percent), Squier (40 percent) and Hornaday (38 percent).

There was a tie for the fifth and final spot between Hornaday and 1992 Cup champion Alan Kulwicki. Following Kulwicki in the voting were former drivers Buddy Baker and Davey Allison.

No date has been set for the 2018 NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremony in Charlotte.