NEW YORK — Lee Petty and Cale Yarborough are among the 25 nominees for NASCAR's first Hall of Fame class.

NASCAR released the two names ahead of the announcement of all nominees on Thursday night.

The late Petty was a three-time NASCAR champion in the 1950s. He was selected as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers in 1998, along with his son, Richard.

Yarborough won three straight NASCAR Sprint Cup titles from 1976-78.

The first class, consisting of five members, will be inducted in conjunction with the opening of the Hall of Fame in Charlotte next May.

A 21-member committee selected the nominees from NASCAR drivers, owners and promoters.