Amidst recent confederate flag controversy NASCAR seems to be finally getting something right, as the Alabama Gang’s timeless racing icon Red Farmer (# F97), has been elected to the Hall of Fame. Releasing its Class of 2021 inductees on Tuesday, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mike Stefanik, Charles "Red" Farmer joins in the auto-racing shrine’s 12th class.
Farmer, Bobby Allison and Donnie Allison were racing’s original Alabama Gang from their base in Hueytown. Already a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, which is located at Talladega Superspeedway, Farmer was NASCAR’s late model sportsman champion in 1969, 1970 and 1971 and its modified champion in 1956.
Farmer has piled up more than 750 race victories and is still driving at Talladega Short Track at 87 years old/young. Farmer was elected from the Pioneer ballot, which also included crew chief Jake Elder, car builder Banjo Matthews, driver Herschel McGriff and owner Ralph Moody. Pioneer nominees started their careers in 1961 or earlier.
Farmer received 71 percent of the Pioneer ballot votes. Just this weekend Farmer competed with the United Championship Racing Alliance - UCRA in their debut event at Talladega Short Track, Farmer's home track.