There comes a time in your life when you start to think you have turned into a ornery old cuss. You can't seem to trust anybody to do anything right, and slowly you find yourself becoming one of those old curmudgeons sitting in the Muppet Show balcony. Then, the folks at the NASCAR Hall of Fame came up with the perfect five initial inductees, and you found yourself back in your happy place.

Happy is the word I would use upon hearing who the five were. You have Big Bill France and Bill Jr going in; the man who started it all and the one who turned it into what it is today. Not a bad beginning. Junior Johnson, the still-good-looking 77-year-old millionaire in overalls, was a nice pick. Johnson went from delivering moonshine to winning 50 races as a driver to go with 139 more as an owner. If there was one man whose experience might encapsulate the history of NASCAR all by his lonesome, he would be it. There might have been others as deserving who were not selected, but none deserved it more.

Richard Petty smiles after being inducted into NASCAR's first Hall of Fame class Wednesday. Photo by Brad Keppel

Then you go for the most dominant driver in the sport's formative years, as that first modern team led Richard Petty to 200 victories and seven championships. From the skinny kid with the clean face to the now-famous mustache, cowboy hat and shades, Petty never forgot those who put him on the pedestal. At 72, he remains up there today, a legend who still signs his autograph with a flourish for all who seek it.

Alongside him is the man who bridged the gap between what was and what would be. Dale Earnhardt was a throwback to the old days, a take-no-prisoners type true to his nickname as the Intimidator. However, behind those eyes and that mustache was a child's grin, a common touch and the poise of a seven time champion who could meet the demands of both his loyal supporters, his sponsors and the media that spread their gospel. The Man in Black was a colorful character in a sport that once spawned colorful characters, one who left us so dramatically and tragically. We mourn him even today.

The France father and son, Johnson, Petty and Earnhardt. They will be the first, but certainly not the last. Next in line I suspect will be David Pearson, Bobby Allison, and Darrell Waltrip. You can't argue with success, and that trio chalked up a huge number of victories. The rest we can argue about. Before Earnhardt, I liked Cale Yarborough, who has three crowns of his own. Maybe he'll be in the next class. Maybe not.

There will be no shortage of worthy candidates for quite a few years. Forget about Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus for awhile. They will get their turn. For now, there is Lee Petty, Rusty Wallace and Gentleman Ned to consider. There are so many drivers, owners, crew chiefs and others who helped transform this southern pastime into the premier racing series for those of us who call this part of the world home. I'm sure one day they will put someone in that newly hallowed place that will leave us scratching our heads. However, this isn't that day.

The five initial inductees into NASCAR's Hall of Fame are the five who should be there to open the doors in the spring. They got it right.