A 21-member committee - consisting of NASCAR officials and industry leaders, as well as owners/operators of current and historic racetracks - determined the nominees.

The five inductees for the hall's first class will be selected by a voting panel made up of NASCAR members, manufacturer representatives, former competitors, the media and fans. The voting will be completed by September 15, with the results announced in October.

Eligibility requirements included NASCAR accomplishments and contributions. Former drivers must have competed 10 years in NASCAR and be retired from the sport for a minimum of three years in order to be eligible. Non drivers qualify after working at least 10 years in the industry. NASCAR will grant consideration for potential candidates with shorter careers if there are special circumstances.

The inductees will be honored next May when the hall is scheduled to open in Charlotte, NC.

The 25 nominees for the first NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class:

(In alphabetical order)

Bobby Allison - 1983 Cup champion and 84 race wins.

Buck Baker - first driver to win consecutive Cup titles (1956-57).

Red Byron - first Cup champion in 1949.

Richard Childress - team owner who won six titles with driver Dale Earnhardt.

Dale Earnhardt - Seven-time Cup champion (1980, '86, '87, '90, '91, '93, '94).

Richie Evans - Modified stock car racing legend who won nine titles.

Tim Flock - Two-time Cup champion (1952, '55) and 39 race wins.

William H.G. France - NASCAR founder and racetrack mogul.

Bill France Jr. - NASCAR's president (1972-2000), NASCAR chairman (2000-2003).

Rick Hendrick - Eight-time Cup championship team owner.

Ned Jarrett - Two-time Cup champion (1961, '65) and 50 race wins.

Junior Johnson - Six-time Cup championships team owner and 50 wins as driver.

Bud Moore - team owner for 37 years with two Cup championships and 63 wins.

Raymond Parks - team owner who won NASCAR's first title with driver Red Byron.

Benny Parsons - 1973 Cup champion and first driver to qualify a stock car at more than 200 m.p.h.

David Pearson - Three-time Cup champion (1966, '68, '69) and 105 race wins.

Lee Petty - Three-time Cup champion (1954, '58, '59) and winner of first Daytona 500 (1959).

Richard Petty - Seven-time Cup champion (1964, '67, '71, '72, '74, '75, '79) and winner of a record-200 races.

Fireball Roberts - Considered as one of the best drivers to never win a NASCAR title, 33 race wins.

Herb Thomas - Two-time Cup champion (1951, '53) and 48 race wins.

Curtis Turner - Only driver to win 25 major NASCAR races in one season (1956), including 22 in the convertible division

Darrell Waltrip - Three-time Cup champion (1981, '82, '85) and 84 race wins.

Joe Weatherly - Two-time Cup champion (1962-63) and 25 race wins.

Glen Wood - legendary team owner who has been in NASCAR since 1953.

Cale Yarborough - First driver to win three consecutive Cup championships (1976-78).