Glen Wood is one of NASCAR’s longest-standing and most respected team owners. Wood began his career driving for the Wood Brothers Racing team he has owned for 58 years and which has pioneered changes in the sport. Here are five reasons he is a NASCAR Hall of Famer.

Wood was a driver when NASCAR was still trying to find its way, competing on a part-time basis from 1953-64. In his limited schedule, he earned four wins with 34 top-10 finishes, 22 of them top fives.

Glen Wood found more success in the NASCAR Convertible Series. He raced in the series part time from 1956-59, picking up five wins, 62 top-10s and 43 top fives in 89 starts.

Wood (center, with Junior Johnson on left and Leonard Wood on right) was a founder of the Wood Brothers Racing team, which has competed for 58 years. During that time, the team has earned 98 wins with 519 top-10 finishes, 337 of them top fives.

The Wood Brothers helped spark or continue the careers of a series of top drivers over the years. While Wood and his team seldom ran for the championship, it found success with a wide array of drivers including Curtis Turner, Junior Johnson, Joe Weatherly, Speedy Thompson, Banjo Matthews, Marvin Panch, Fred Lorenzen, Tiny Lund, Dan Gurney, A.J. Foyt, Cale Yarborough, Parnelli Jones, David Pearson (who earned 43 of his career wins with the team), Neil Bonnett, Buddy Baker, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott.

Wood’s team helped focus national attention on NASCAR, both with its success and its innovations. The team was featured in national magazines and even pitted a winning car in the Indy 500 because of changes it made that resonated throughout the sport.