A general view of the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Imagees
Bill Elliott (R) speaks with Joe Gibbs (L), owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, prior to the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
NASCAR Hall of Famer Rex White walks the red carpet prior to the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Fred Lorenzen(C) is escorted by daughter Amanda (L) and son Chris (2L) as host Mike Joy (R) looks on during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
The Wendell Scott family reacts on stage after receiving the NASCAR Hall of Fame jacket in honor of the late Wendell Scott during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Chevrolet, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Franklin Scott, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen (L) looks on as his son Chris speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing and driver of the #14 Chevrolet, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
NASCAR Hall of Famer Rex White speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
ranklin Scott (L) and Wendell Scott Jr.(R), sons of NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott, speak during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Franklin Scott, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Driver Kasey Kahne introduces inductee Bill Elliott during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Bob Leverone/Getty Images
Bill Elliott makes his acceptance speech during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Bob Leverone/Getty Images
Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of International Speedway Cooperation, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Elliott, Lorenzen, Scott, Weatherly, White Officially Enshrined
Five legendary drivers with distinct styles and contributions to NASCAR were enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina tonight during the Induction Ceremony held in the Crown Ball Room at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Those who added their names to the list of now 30 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees, included: Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly and Rex White.
The group makes up the Hall’s sixth class in its history. Continue reading →
Joe Weatherly, winner of the 1960 and 1963 Rebel 300s. Photo – Getty Images Archive
February 1956: Joe Weatherly of Norfolk, VA, ran this 1956 Ford factory entry in the NASCAR Convertible Division race on the Daytona Beach-Road Course. He started from the pole and led several laps before a broken water pump ended his day. Photo – Getty Images Archive
February 1963: Four superstars of NASCAR find a great place to relax, leaning against the Mercury of driver Parnelli Jones in the garage area of Daytona International Speedway before the running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup race. (L-R) Fred Lorenzen, Glen “Fireball” Roberts, Joe Weatherly and Darel Dieringer. Photo – Getty Images Archive
1956: NASCAR superstars Joe Weatherly (L) and Curtis Turner (R) at Orange Speedway. Photo – Getty Images Archive
Driver Joe Weatherly smiles before the race at the Southern 500 race on September 2, 1963 at the Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Photo – Dozier Mobley/Getty Imagaes
963: Joe Weatherly began the 1963 season campaigning Pontiacs, until GM cut back their participation in racing. Car owner Bud Moore switched to Mercury products by mid-season. Photo – Getty Images Archive
Brief Yet Prolific Career Lands ‘Clown Prince of Racing’ In Hall
Note: This release is part of a series in advance of the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 30, broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly and Rex White are the five 2015 inductees.
Joe Weatherly’s time in NASCAR’s premier series was short, just two full-time seasons.
But what an impact the Norfolk, Virginia, native had on NASCAR racing in those brief, 24 months.
Weatherly, previously a winner of American Motorcyclist Association and NASCAR modified titles, claimed back-to-back premier series championships in 1962-63. He posted 25 victories in 229 starts before his untimely death in January 1964 at Riverside (California) International Raceway. Continue reading →
Elliott, Lorenzen, Scott, Weatherly, White Comprise List Of New Inductees
NASCAR announced Wednesday the inductees who are the 2015 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The five-person group – the sixth in NASCAR Hall of Fame history – consists of Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly and Rex White. In addition, NASCAR announced that Anne B. France won the inaugural Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Next year’s Induction Day is Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, broadcast on NBC Sports Network from Charlotte, N.C. Continue reading →