Hall of Fame credentials: First driver to win three straight Cup championships (1976-78). Compiled 83 career Cup wins (fifth all-time) and 69 Cup poles (third all-time). Four-time Daytona 500 winner (1968, '77, '83-84), second most all-time.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Won four races as a driver and claimed 14 poles. As part-owner of Wood Brothers Racing alongside brothers Leonard and Delano, Glen has 96 Cup wins.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: A part-owner of the legendary Wood Brothers organization, Wood served as chief mechanic and helped revolutionize pit stops. He also played a big role in the team's engine shop, one of the keys to its success.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Two-time Cup champion (1962-63) with 25 career Cup wins. Drove for nine teams on way to 1963 championship. Won 101 NASCAR modified Division races and the championship in 1952 and '53.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Three-time Cup champion (1981-82, '85) with 84 career Cup wins (tied for third all-time) and 59 career poles (fifth all-time). Won 1989 Daytona 500.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Only NASCAR driver to win two Grand National races in a row from the pole while leading every lap (Rochester, N.Y. and Charlotte, N.C., July 1950). Had 17 career Cup wins. First driver to qualify for a race at more than 180 mph (1967 Daytona 500).

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: First two-time series champ (1951, '53), first three-time winner of the Southern 500 (1951, '54-55). Had 48 career Cup victories. Driver of the Hudson Hornet.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Executive renowned for taking R.J. Reynolds’ sponsorship of NASCAR’s premier series — then called NASCAR Winston Cup — to a new level of success. Among his many accomplishments was overseeing the creation of the NASCAR All-Star Race, originally called The Winston.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Winner of 1962 Daytona 500 with 33 wins and 32 poles over his career. His death in 1964 following a fiery crash led to the development of fire-retardant suits and RaceSafe fuel cells.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Renowned for his achievements on the football field, which earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February 2011, “Coach” Richter began working with Riverside International Raceway in 1959 before becoming president of the track in ’61. He joined NASCAR in 1983, serving as advisor to Bill France Jr. before becoming executive vice president of competition in 1986 and then senior VP of operations in 1992.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: 1973 Cup champion with 21 career wins and 20 career poles. Won the 1975 Daytona 500 and was the first driver to qualify a stock car at more than 200 mph (1982, Talladega).

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Owner of Red Byron's car which won the first Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup) championship in 1949.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Owens found success in many walks of life. In the Cup Series he finished a career-best second to Hall of Famer Lee Petty in the race for 1959 championship and scored nine wins, including Pontiac’s first at the Daytona Beach road course. He also succeeded racing NASCAR modified stock cars, winning the 1953 and ’54 championships. After his racing career he had many achievements as an owner, getting 38 wins and teaming with Hall of Famer David Pearson to win the 1966 Cup championship.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Winner of 26 Cup races in 158 starts, including the 1965 Daytona 500 and World (now Coca-Cola) 600.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Cup champion in 1970. Has 37 wins and 49 poles in his career, including 19 in 1969, which is the record for most in a season.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Eight-time Cup championship-winning crew chief.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Two-time NASCAR Grand National (now Nationwide) Series champion.

Hall of Fame credentials: Winner of nine Cup championships as owner and 12 NASCAR national series owner championships (most all-time). Won four consecutive Cup titles from 1995 to '98 with Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Two-time Cup champion (1952, '55) with 39 career Cup wins. Won NASCAR's only sports car race. Occasionally drove with a monkey named Jocko Flocko.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Winner of nine NASCAR National Modified championships (1973, '78-85). Three-time Race of Champions winner.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: One of the pioneers of the sport, Earles built and opened Martinsville Speedway in 1947 — the only short track to host a Cup race every year since the series’ inception in 1949.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Six-time NASCAR Modified series champion.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: Scored six top-five and 76 top-10 finishes in 285 Cup starts as a driver (1969-81). As an owner he has six Cup championships and 11 NASCAR national series owner championships (second all-time). First owner to win a championship in all three of NASCAR's elite series (Cup, Busch/Nationwide, Trucks).

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: First Cup Series champion (1949). Won first NASCAR-sanctioned race in 1948 en route to NASCAR Modified championship.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Hall of Fame credentials: First driver to win consecutive series titles (1956, '57). Had 46 career wins and 45 career Cup poles (10th all-time). Founded high-performance driving schools at four tracks.

Five reasons he could be Hall bound

Which five NASCAR icons will get voted into the Hall of Fame 2012 class today? Meet the 25 finalists for the honor.