Warren Johnson

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America has released the list of drag racing finalists who are candidates to be inducted into its class of 2012. Six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson heads the list, which also includes three-time NHRA Funny Car champion Raymond Beadle, the owner/driver of the Blue Max Funny Car; Funny Car builder and component designer John Buttera; pioneering Funny Car driver Jack Chrisman; announcer Dave McClelland; and engine builder Ed Pink. Inductees will be announced early in 2012.

Eligibility for induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame is extended to any person who has driven, piloted, owned, designed, built, supported, maintained, prepared, or promoted motorized vehicles in pursuit of speed, distance, or other records. An inductee must have been retired for at least three years or must have been engaged at the top level of his or her area of motorsports for at least 20 years. Inductees are characterized by their desire to win, mastery of their field, and the courage to innovate.

A panel of historians, retired competitors, journalists, and prior living inductees vote for the final selections. Each inductee receives the Hall of Fame's prestigious Horsepower award -- an original bronze statuette created by Ann Arbor, Mich., sculptor Michael Curtis.

The list of previous drag racing inductees is a Who’s Who of the sport: Wally Parks, Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Don Prudhomme, Bob Glidden, Connie Kalitta, Keith Black, Bill Jenkins, Art Chrisman, Don Nicholson, C.J. Hart, Danny Ongais, Tom McEwen, Eddie Hill, Ed Donovan, Joe Amato, Tommy Ivo, Chris Karamesines, Buddy Martin, Ronnie Sox, John Force, Kenny Bernstein, Dale Armstrong, and Ed McCulloch.