This first-time NASCAR Hall of Fame voter will celebrate history, common ground

After nearly 15 years of covering NASCAR, it’s pretty cool to be on the same level as NASCAR veteran Jeff Burton and reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick.

At least in something.

The three of us are among eight new members of the 55-member Hall of Fame voting panel. On Wednesday, we’ll help select the next five-member class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

NASCAR added us to that panel in January. It’s not an honor I sought, but I consider it among the highest achievements of my journalism career. And I think it’s more of a reflection of how I have done my job than the quality of my work.

Anyone who knows me, reads my work or follows me on Twitter knows I don’t pull any punches. When I believe something is right, or wrong, I say so.

I am just as likely to be called a “NASCAR mouthpiece” as I am a “NASCAR hater,” and on occasion have been called both in the same conversation. Perhaps there is some honor in that.

Needless to say, I take the selection process seriously. I have reverence for the Hall and for the achievements of those nominated and appreciate how much it means to them and their loved ones.

Each year I have been asked to write about who I think should be voted into the Hall. This year, I’ll wait. I’ve been told the annual Hall deliberation among the voting panel is one of the best things to be a part of in NASCAR.

I have some idea, of course, of who will be on my ballot. Curtis Turner and Red Byron are nearly certain to make my list of five.

After that, I plan to listen and learn from the opinions in the room.

This is not easy. I have always believed that history is vitally important, and that it’s impossible to prepare for the future without recognizing the successes and failures of the past.

But we should not be forever bound by history, because no era is like any another.

As a Hall of Fame voter, I will seek to understand and appreciate NASCAR history while understanding the circumstances under which that history was made.

And I’ll enjoy the common ground.

This story was originally published May 18, 2015 at 6:18 PM with the headline "This first-time NASCAR Hall of Fame voter will celebrate history, common ground."