Elliott, Labonte Nominated For NASCAR Hall Of Fame

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Bill Elliott and Terry Labonte are among the first-year eligible nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Mark Martin failed to make the ballot in his first year of eligibility.

NASCAR announced sweeping changes to the Hall of Fame election process last year, making drivers eligible if they have competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR or turned 55 in the calendar year before nominating day. Previously, drivers were not eligible until they had been retired for three years, so drivers can continue to compete and still reach the hall.

The ballot will also include only 20 nominees, down five from the first five classes.

Les Richter, Ralph Seagraves, Annie B. France, T. Wayne Robertson, and Clay Earles were dropped off the ballot.

Also nominated was O. Bruton Smith, NASCAR promoter and CEO/owner of Speedway Motorsports Inc. which owns Charlotte Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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