Richard Petty’s son SLAMS critics of the four board members who voted against Jimmie Johnson and denied him unanimous first-ballot Hall of Fame entry

Kyle Petty says the four members’ opinions should be respected.

Richard Petty’s son SLAMS critics of the four board members who voted against Jimmie Johnson and denied him unanimous first-ballot Hall of Fame entry

Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson (Via IMAGO)

NASCAR legend Richard Petty’s son and former racing driver Kyle Petty has pointed out that it isn’t right to criticize board members who voted against Jimmie Johnson being a unanimous first-ballot Hall of Fame entry. He thinks JJ’s entry should be celebrated, and the racing community should stop creating controversies around it.

Jimmie Johnson and his crew chief Chad Knaus were selected from the modern-era ballot, and legendary driver Donnie Allison was elected from the pioneer ballot to the class of 2024 NASCAR HOF. The Legacy MC co-owner was expected to become the first-ever unanimous entry to the prestigious list. But only 53 out of the 57 members voted for him. It caused wide outrage on social media, and the four members were criticized heavily.  

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But Kyle Petty talking about the controversies on his NBC Sports Motor Mouths show (H&T Pro Talk), pointed out that the voting process should not be controversial and that the four members are entitled to their opinions. He said that he respects the opinion of the four members under intense scrutiny as they are free to do the same just like he does.

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“It has been sad to me to read some of the comments. That we should name the four that voted against Jimmie and then kick them off the board. When did we grow up to live in a world where if my opinions are one way and your opinion something else, and I don’t like you, I vote you off, and you’re off the island? That’s it. It’s either my way or the highway,” Kyle Petty said.

“Just like Parker Kligerman has an opinion of watching Jimmie Johnson and believes him to be the GOAT. I respect that opinion from Parker because that’s who he saw race. I have to respect those four people for whatever reason that they saw fit that they didn’t think that Jimmie should go in… Who knows what their reasoning is?…” Petty added.

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Kyle Petty says there won’t be a unanimous NASCAR entry in his lifetime

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Kyle Petty (Credits: Getty)

There are three drivers who are the most eligible to get a unanimous Hall of Fame entry. Seven times Cup champions Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and JJ. The first two were automatic inductees on the first-ever Hall of Fame entrants. This left Johnson as the most deserving to make that history, and unfortunately, he couldn’t.

So Petty believes it’s sad Johnson didn’t get a unanimous ballot but claimed that the 83 times Cup race winner is okay with it. He said that if Johson can’t get it, there won’t be another unanimous entry, at least in his lifetime.

“The sad part of this whole thing is not that Jimmie didn’t get in unanimous. Jimmie is good with it. And listen, we’ll never see anybody unanimous. If Jimmie Johnson didn’t get unanimous, I’m not going to see somebody in my lifetime,” Petty said.

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