CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Rusty Wallace touched on his early days trying to make it as a professional race car driver, the lessons he learned from NASCAR's pioneers and his relentless push to drive for Roger Penske in an energetic acceptance into the Hall of Fame.

Then Wallace, winner of 55 races and the 1989 championship, called Friday night's induction "the biggest day of my driving career."

Wallace was the headliner of the fourth Hall of Fame class, which included innovative mechanic and crew chief Leonard Wood, former series champions Buck Baker and Herb Thomas and former car owner Cotton Owens. Wallace and Wood are the only two living members of this year's class.