By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – NASCAR announced the five names to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2020, the 11th class set to be inducted.
The five inductees are: Tony Stewart, Joe Gibbs, Waddell Wilson, Buddy Baker and Bobby Labonte.
Stewart headlines the 2020 class of inductees into the hall of fame. He competed in NASCAR from 1999 to 2016. During that time period, Stewart collected 49 wins, 187 top-five and 308 top-10 finishes. He also scored the premier series championship thrice in 2002, 2005 and 2011.
“It’s humbling,” Stewart said. “It’s a cool day. It’s way bigger than us getting in. It’s the fact the guy who was responsible to getting me to Joe Gibbs Racing – Bobby Labonte – and getting Coach in as well. Even before that with Waddell Wilson, who was withy Harry Ranier when I started with Ranier-Walsh Racing.
“The four of us going us in at the same time .. there are personal ties with those guys even Buddy Baker. When I went to the Buck Backer driving school, Buddy was there one day. It’s really cool how all five us have a connection in the early parts of my career.”
Gibbs has been in NASCAR since the 1992 season as a owner in the premier series. He has won four Cup championships in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2015; while also winning five NASCAR Xfinity Series championships in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016. He is a three-time Super Bowl championship winning coach.
“It’s a thrill for me,” Gibbs said. “What you think about when something like this happens, I get pushed out front, but I think about all the people that were part of it. I think about showing up on Norm Miller’s doorstep. JD and I telling Norm that we wanted to go racing. We didn’t have a shop, a car, we had nothing.
“He took a chance on us. I think about our family and the
fact that Coy now working so hard and stepping in the gap after JD’s situation.
I think about JD spending his entire life building our race team. I think about
all the guys when we first started. I think about the people. I am so thankful
for all those people that made this possible.”
Labonte competed in the premier series in 1991, and then 1993 to 2016. Over his career, he started in 729 events collecting 21 wins and 26 pole positions. He won the premier series championship in 2000, while winning the Xfinity championship in 1991.
“It is still sinking in,” Labonte said. “I am so thankful. I am definitely a little speechless. I don’t know exactly what to say. What an honor. I didn’t want to watch the broadcast per say because I didn’t know if this was going to happen or not. There are a lot of emotions.”
Wilson was an engine builder and crew chief in NASCAR’s premier series from 1979 t0o 1988, 1990-1993 and 1995. Wilson won three championships in 1968, 1969 and 1973 as an engine builder. In 287 starts, he collected 22 wins and 32 poles.
Baker was known by his colleagues in NASCAR as the “Gentle Giant.” He competed in NASCAR’s premier series from 1959 to 1992. In 699 starts, he collected 19 wins and 38 poles. In 1980, Baker won the Daytona 500. In 1970, Baker became the first driver to eclipse the 200-mph mark on a closed course at Talladega Superspeedway.
Edsel B. Ford II won the prestigious Landmark Award for his contributions to NASCAR.
Voting was as follows: Tony Stewart (88 percent), Joe Gibbs (72 percent), Waddell Wilson (72 percent), Buddy Baker (70 percent) and Bobby Labonte (67 percent). The next top vote-getters were Mike Stefanik, Ray Fox and Hershel McGriff
The Class of 2020 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and, for the sixth year, the reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion (Joey Logano). In all, 57 votes were cast, with two additional Voting Panel members recused from voting as potential nominees for induction (Ricky Rudd and Waddell Wilson).