NASCAR Hall of Fame 5th Class Finalist - Joe Weatherly - Driver

SEE ALSO: Complete List Of Finalists - Includes Official NASCAR Bio's and Pictures

Hometown: Norfolk, Va.

Competed: 1952-64

Starts: 229

Wins: 25

Poles: 18

Joe Weatherly won two championships (1962-63) and 25 races in NASCAR’s premier series.

But that’s only part of his story, which is long on versatility.

A decade earlier in 1952-53, he won 101 races in the NASCAR Modified division, capturing that championship in 1953. He even tried his hand in NASCAR’s short-lived Convertible Division from 1956-59 winning 12 times.

Weatherly was one of the first drivers who attracted fans to NASCAR as much for his personality as his racing ability, thus his nickname the "Clown Prince of Stock Car Racing."

When he won his first NASCAR premier series championship, in 1962, he drove for legendary owner Bud Moore. When he repeated as champion a year later, he drove for nine different teams. Those were the only two years Weatherly competed in the premier series full-time.

Weatherly was named one of the NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.