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NASCAR.com senior writers Kenny Bruce and Holly Cain both are members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame voting panel. Below are their official ballots submitted May 24.
Kenny Bruce’s ballot
Buddy Baker. One of the legendary characters from an era in the sport when drivers were larger-than-life figures. Baker knew only one way to race — wide-open — and he parlayed his on-track success into a broadcast career that helped carry the sport forward.
Red Byron. When it comes to firsts, no one tops Byron, the first NASCAR champion (Modified, 1948) and first champion of what is known today as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (1949).
Ron Hornaday Jr. When you talk of NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series, one name immediately comes to mind. His success helped open the floodgates of California talent.
Jack Roush. Grew a single-car team into a five-team powerhouse and is one of only two owners with championships in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series.
Robert Yates. Won races and championships as one of NASCAR’s top engine builders; as a car owner, his drivers won 57 races and one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title.
Holly Cain’s ballot
Red Byron. NASCAR’s first national champion deserves to be in the Hall, joining every other candidate also on the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame 25-person ballot.
Ron Hornaday Jr. The only four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner who owns series records in wins (51), top-five finishes (158) and top-10s (234). It’s time for this series to be represented, and there is no one better to do so.
Jack Roush. The single winningest team owner across all series in NASCAR history, and one of only two owners to ever achieve championships in all of the sport’s three national series.
Ken Squier. Not only did he co-found the sport’s Motor Racing Network (MRN) and handle NASCAR’s national television live race broadcast debut — the 1979 Daytona 500 on CBS — he was responsible for laying the groundwork for the future of the sport’s big-time national broadcasting opportunities.
Robert Yates. Yates won NASCAR championships as a team owner (Dale Jarrett in 1999) and as an engine builder (Bobby Allison, 1983). He has three Daytona 500 owner wins and won 77 trophies as an engine builder for Hall of Famer Junior Johnson.
