The NASCAR Hall of Fame tapped its eighth class for enshrinement Wednesday, announcing the names of the next five honorees recognized for their contributions to stock-car racing. Members of the 2017 induction class are: Richard Childress. Eleven-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series. Rick Hendrick. Fourteen-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series. Mark Martin. 96-time race winner in NASCAR national series competition. Raymond Parks. NASCAR's first champion car owner. Parks was also one of five finalists for the Landmark Award. Benny Parsons. 1973 NASCAR premier series champion. A panel of former drivers and crew, NASCAR executives, industry figures, media and reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch determined the inductees after an afternoon of discussion and balloting on the Hall of Fame's annual Voting Day. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France -- himself a Hall of Fame voter -- delivered the five names in the shrine's Great Hall, bringing the total to 40 members. France also announced that H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway, is this year's recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Earles joins Harold Brasington (2016) and inaugural winner Anne B. France (2015) as Landmark Award honorees. The Class of 2017 will be inducted Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.
