Five newcomers added to NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees list

Charlotte, NC – NASCAR on Wednesday revealed five new members added to the roster of 25 nominees for the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Ray Fox, Anne B. France, Wendell Scott, Ralph Seagraves and Rusty Wallace joined 20 other nominees who have already been selected within the past three years.

Fox was an engine builder and team owner before serving as NASCAR's engine inspector during the 1990's.

France, the wife of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., is the first female to be nominated for induction into the Hall. She played a huge role in the family business, serving as NASCAR's secretary and treasurer before moving into the same roles at International Speedway Corporation.

Scott is the first African-American to be nominated for induction into the NHOF as well as the first African-American to win a race in NASCAR's premier series, doing so in December 1963 at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, FL.

Seagraves was a long-time top executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company who helped NASCAR land sponsorship with its Winston brand for the Cup Series.

Wallace won the 1989 NASCAR Cup Series championship in 1989. His 55 career victories currently rank him eighth on the series all-time race winners list. Wallace presently serves as an analyst for ESPN's television coverage of NASCAR.

The rest of the nominees are: Buck Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, H. Clay Earles, Tim Flock, Rick Hendrick, Jack Ingram, Bobby Isaac, Fred Lorenzen, Cotton Owens, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, Les Richter, Fireball Roberts, T. Wayne Robertson, Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly and Leonard Wood.

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 2013 induction class will be announced on May 23 at the NHOF in Charlotte. Five inductees will be elected by the NHOF Voting Panel, which includes a nationwide fan vote on NASCAR.com.