Kyle Petty Settles Controversial NASCAR Hall of Fame Debate with Wild ‘Dale Earnhardt Jr. Not Hof Worthy’ Analogy

Ex-NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Petty has shared his thoughts on controversial debate around the Hall of Fame nominees.

Kyle Petty Settles Controversial NASCAR Hall of Fame Debate with Wild ‘Dale Earnhardt Jr. Not Hof Worthy’ Analogy

Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Via IMAGO)

One of the most dramatic debates in the NASCAR community was started last week by Dale Jr. Download podcast producer Travis Rockhold, who claimed best Cup drivers should be in NASCAR Hall of Fame not the best from lower divisions. He was responding to Dale Earnhardt Jr. making HOF case for his driver Justin Allgaier.

Seven times Cup champion Richard Petty’s son and ex-Cup racer Kyle Petty has shared his thoughts on the debate. He explained his point in favor of honouring the lower division drivers alongside the Cup grates, giving the examples of HOF’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards, who would not have been on the pedestal if the criteria were just racing merit.

This is where I’m going to burn the world down, … I’ve got a match, getting ready to light it. I’m picking on two guys, and start sending the hate right now. The two guys I’m picking on are Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards with 26 wins and 28 wins, respectively. That’s what they’ve won (at the Cup level).

Kyle Petty said recently.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards haven’t scored more than 30 wins in the Cup Series, as well not winning the championship. But they were given the same honor that Bobby Allison and Richard Petty got. Kyle Petty highlighted that these racers didn’t get into the list because of racing, it’s more than that.

Do those guys deserve to be in a Hall of Fame with Bobby Allison and Richard Petty and David Pearson and Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson and, oh yeah, Dale (Earnhardt) Sr.? I’d say, no. No, they don’t deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Not off their numbers.

Kyle Petty questioned via NASCAR inside the race.

Unlike some other sports, NASCAR Hall of Fame isn’t just about racing stats, but also about the total contribution the racer or personal has made it to the sport. It’s about the total package and according to the ex-racer Dale Jr. has made a good point about Justin Allegier deserving a place among the best.

But the Hall of Fame isn’t all about numbers, that’s what I’m saying. When we look at the Hall of Fame, it’s about commitment to the sport, it’s about ownership, it’s about what you do for TV… (Voters) don’t just look at the numbers. That’s why Dale Jr. and Carl Edwards are in there, not off the numbers alone. So, if you’re looking at Justin Allegier’s numbers alone, then you’re looking at the wrong place. You have to look at the total package.

Kyle Petty asserted.

Kyle Busch got a similar opinion on the discussion as Kyle Petty

Two times NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch had shared his thoughts on the controversial topic ahead of the Martinsville Cup race. He pointed out that honoring people from different series that made impact in NASCAR is the goal pf HOF, and the sport is making the right decisions in terms of nominations at the moment.

Kyle Busch and Kyle Petty
Kyle Busch and Kyle Petty (Via IMAGO)

Our sport is vastly different than other sports. So, having different divisions and different people who have made impacts on our sport in those different divisions, I feel like it’s done the right way the way it’s been done currently.

Kyle Busch said.

But the likes of Denny Hamlin and Kenny Wallace do not aggress with the Kyle’s. They believe there should some type of tier system regarding drivers making into the HOF, as the Cup drivers went through a much bigger challenge to thrive in the top tier. It’s one of those NASCAR debates that might never get settled.

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