Raymond Parks

You may think you know how NASCAR began but if you’re not familiar with Raymond Parks, you only know half the story. NASCAR took a huge step forward in correcting that misconception by inducting Parks into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Friday evening.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Another class has been immortalized amongst the sport's greatest and most important figures.

"In so many ways he was the perfect first champion," Bill France Jr. said of Byron in 1998 when he was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers. "A guy who loved racing so much he refused to give it up. And he loved his country so much he gave it all he had."

"I was in absolute awe of his knowledge. Have no doubt about it; I still am!" Smokey Yunick