If it were up to fans, drivers would dominate the first class of inductees into NASCAR’s proposed Hall of Fame.

More than 250 fans sent e-mails when asked who they’d put in a 10-person inaugural class for the Hall of Fame.

Nine of the top 10 in the fans’ voting are legendary drivers, with a pair of seven-time Cup champions – not surprisingly – leading the way.

Richard Petty was the No. 1 vote-getter and Dale Earnhardt was a close second, with both getting more than 225 votes. Junior Johnson, who had brilliant careers as a driver and as a car owner, was third in the voting, with three-time champion Cale Yarborough fourth.

The only nondriver to make the cut was NASCAR founder William H.G. France Sr.

David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Lee Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Ned Jarrett also made the fans’ inaugural class.

Many fans clearly stated they believed most of the inaugural class should be drivers, since they’ve helped build the sport’s popularity.

At the same time, however, the inaugural class would need to acknowledge contributions of men such as France, whose work helped give those drivers a place to display their skills.

NASCAR hasn’t said the first class would be limited to 10. In fact, one NASCAR official who has a role in planning the new hall and who also voted in this survey said “10 is not enough.”

Fans Have Spoken

Here are the top-10 vote-getters readers selected in the Hall of Fame poll:

Owner Junior Johnson, above left, helps push Darrell Waltrip's car off of pit road during a 1986 race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

1. Richard Petty. 2. Dale Earnhardt. 3. Junior Johnson. 4. Cale Yarborough. 5. William H.G. France Sr. 6. David Pearson. 7. Bobby Allison. 8. Lee Petty. 9. Darrell Waltrip. 10. Ned Jarrett

David Poole’s vote

My class of 10 in the order I would vote for them:

1. William H.G. France Sr.: So much of NASCAR’s success today stems from the strong foundation built by this visionary. It all goes back to “Big Bill.”

2. Richard Petty: “The King” won 200 races and seven championships. Perhaps as importantly, he has served as a great ambassador for the sport.

3. Dale Earnhardt: Fittingly, he’s No. 3 on my list. The seven-time champion made that number synonymous with success and competitiveness in stock-car racing.

4. William France Jr.: Maybe some fans didn’t think they should vote for Bill France Jr. because he’s still got a role in the sport. He only ceded control of NASCAR to his son, Brian, two years ago.

5. David Pearson: Won 105 races in 574 career starts. Petty’s 200 wins came in 1,184 races. Here’s a great statistic for you. Petty and Pearson were both in 550 races in their careers. Petty won 107 of them and Pearson 97.

6. Junior Johnson: He won 50 races as a driver and 139 races and six championships as a car owner.

7. Bobby Allison and 8. Darrell Waltrip: I put these two guys together here because their rivalry is one of the great ones in the sport’s history, just like Petty and Pearson.

9. Ralph Seagraves: Some younger fans might not know this name, but Seagraves gets a vote from me for what R.J. Reynolds’ Tobacco Company’s sponsorship meant to what was, for more than 30 years, Winston Cup racing.

10. Curtis Turner: I just can’t leave Turner out of my top 10, even though it does mean Yarborough doesn’t make it – until the second year.