Preceded into the MSHFA by younger brother Tim Flock (MSHFA Class of 1999), Truman Fontell Flock had hall of fame credentials all his own. The Division 4 Hall of Fame has been called many things over the years by its members and fans, the most descriptive being the "Division of Champions". We may earn money from the links on this page. So as far back as I can remember, we were always going to the drag races. From that day on, he spent the next 46 years calling drag races all over the United States and in Canada, Mexica, Puerto Rico, and England. It is as though we had a full-time representative on the West Coast. NHRA.com - Hall of Fame Hes also been successful in the show pen. While a lot of our newer members might not be as familiar with Charles Vaughan, if you look back over the years, he has continuously supported the industry in a variety of ways. We want to thank the many who have supported us and those from whom we learned on our journey to make motorsports safer.. A young man, Ryan White, had contracted the disease after receiving an injection to treat his hemophilia. After winning the 1930 National Air Races, Chester designed and built a series of groundbreaking planes named after Popeye characters. Year Inducted: Name of Inducted: 1983: Bo Laws: 1983: Pete Robinson: 1983: Ernie Schorb: 1984: Raymond Godman: 1984: Marvin Schwartz: 1984: Tommy Shinholster: 1985 . The formal induction ceremonies were not held in 2020. Andrea Lynch (ne Sellmeyer) and James Wadley will be the latest former members of Buffalo sports programs added to the storied Athletic Hall of Fame for their efforts at McAlester. (NHRA photo), The Motorsports Authority - Copyright 2014-2023 - Turn 3 Media, LLC All Rights Reserved. 3. Trammell won the 2021 Louis Schwitzer Award for biomedical engineering advances for driver safety. Thanks to the dedication of his lawyer, Charles Vaughan, White eventually regained his rights to attend school, and the enactment of the Ryan White act helped lessen discrimination against AIDS victims across the country. He and Ali also are parents to sons Donovan, an Ivy Tech student, and Luke, who will enter high school this year. He won both contests. Graeme has a reputation for being a person of integrity and creativity in the sport. The Summernationlas grew in popularity with the racers and fans due to the cooler springtime weather. I want to address the intrinsic. So its not from lack of desire. All of a sudden, he was building cars for the likes of Gary Beck, James Warren, Roger Coburn, and Dennis Baca. Sonny has lived his entire adult life dedicated to the sport of Drag Racing. The banquet is Monday evening. She also had two subsequent battles with cancer, but these misfortunes did not defeat her, and she continued racing until 2015. This could have been due to the fact that in Johns first 10 seasons in drag racing competition, he did not have any wins, only made nine final-round appearances, and was on fire quite a bit. In the 1970s, Olvey developed the first U.S. traveling motorsports medical team for what is todays IndyCar Series. Smith also recalled Carpenters little-known contributions to the sport. The pair terrorized the class in Southern California, and later across the country. In 2020 he was named the No. On Wednesday, December 1, these honorees, as well as 2020 NRHA Hall of Fame inductees the late Sally Brown and the late Jerry Kimmel, and 2020 NRHA Dale Wilkinson Award recipient Mike Carrier, will be recognized and celebrated during Sliders Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch. Hall of Fame - Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing has announced its newest inductees for its 2023 Hall of Fame and boy is it a list! Hall Of Fame (104) the list. The Hall of Fame inductees are selected in a vote of 200 motorsports experts, including nearly 100 Hall of Fame members. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. He took a chance and applied for the job and got it. Bob accepted the job and was with NHRA from 1985-2012. He has won three championships yet suddenly found himself empty-handed and forced to learn the most basic step to winning titles: finding funding to operate the race car. This division is home to names like Eddie Hill, Raymond Beadle, Kenny Bernstein, Bill Meyer and many more. The people we have now Robert Hight, Jimmy Prock, David Grubnic, Chris Cunningham, Joe Barlam, my son-in-law Danny Hood, Tim Fabrisi and then my kids. I didnt race to make money, I raced because I loved it, Force said. Charles Vaughan NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award 2021. Ive got it good. In the meantime, Sonny would have the car as if it were his very own. We are proud to support Joses nomination to the NRHA Hall of Fame, shared Carlos Hernandez, president of the Asociacion Mexicana de Reining A.C. NRHA Affiliate. From Buddy Anderson to Doug Wright - Check out the career summaries, detailed biographies, stats, photos, and multi-media on each member of the NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame. Scott Dixon, Jimmie Johnson Head Motorsports Hall of Fame of America About : NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame Subjected to six hours of reconstructive surgery after being airlifted to a Dallas hospital and told by doctors he likely would not race again, Force defied the odds. Now, we have plenty of characters in the Hall of Fame, but Jose, with his family values and involvement in the industry, is the epitome of great character., NRHA Past President Bill Bradley echoed those sentiments before his passing in 2018, commending Vazquezs excitement about both reining and the NRHA. Do I miss it? Eight of nine Class of 2022 Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees - RACER LaHaie, Vance & Hines inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Former NHRA Top Fuel world champ Dick LaHaie and motorcycle drag racing legends Terry Vance and Byron Hines were. On top of all he has done for Drag Racing, Sonny is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Sonny attends all of the California Drag Racing Nostalgia functions and keeps the Dragster in top running condition. Copyright 1996-2023, NHRA. He knew he was hooked. He collected the 1983 Top Alcohol Dragster World Championship, then moved to Top Fuel, where he took 18 victories and never finished lower than fourth in points between 1986 and 1989. While he never logged world championship as a driver, Hill recorded 28 IHRA national event victories and 31 runner-up finishes and won the IHRA World Championship with Tim Bell driving a Ford Probe in 1995. The contributions he made to this association and its members may never truly be seen. Eight years later, as a newly selected member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, he would say the same thing. Part of the reason we wanted to make the announcement at the Racing Goes Safer seminar is because several members of the Class of 2023 have played a major role in improving racing safety, said MSHFA president George Levy. The conflict grew, eventually culminating in a grueling nine-month trial. NHRA 4-Wide Charlotte Final Qualifying Results, Jasmine Salinas Continues Torwards NHRA Top Fuel, DeJoria Powers to Front at NHRA Four-Wides, NHRA Leaving Bandimere Speedway after 2023, NHRA Rivals Not Happy with Josh Hart's Tactics, NHRA Results, Updated Standings from Las Vegas, Tony Stewart Is Now an NHRA Winning Driver, NHRA Vegas Qualifying Results, Sunday Pairings, NHRA Great Larry Dixon Humbled by Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Selection. . Im a motorsports fan, and certainly to end up down there for this, of course, Dixon, 54, of suburban Indianapolis, said. The NHRA has lifted its indefinite suspension of Dixon, and he has renewed his Top Fuel license. Hancock also noted Carpenters penchant for privacy. Nine notables from the world of motorsports, including three female honorees, were named to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) as the 33rd class was unveiled on Saturday at Daytona. Because I still love it. By 1969, the Gas class was being supplanted by the new Funny Car class, and marked the end of Baloghs illustrious 10-year racing career. Prince, George Harrison, Traffic, ZZ Top into Rock&Roll Hall of Fame His excuse was he was making the tractor lighter so it would go faster. Linda wrote all of the radio and TV commercials for IHRA for many years and won a prestigious National ADDY award for her originality creating the IHRA commercials. Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame to honor legendary NHRA team owner Roland In 1966 while at Atco, Bob learned they were looking for a track announcer. Needless to say, Carpenter ended up staying with horses.. endorsed by. Burleson started riding at 18. Hill grew up just down the road from Lee and Richard Petty in Level Cross, N.C., and became close friends with the NASCAR stars. Forces journey is truly the American dream rags to riches story. News of his selection shouldnt have been all that startling to Dixon. Prieto was never one to turn a blind eye to what he considered to be a problem (or worse) found himself working in the automotive enthusiast media, while also getting involved with Top Fuel cars. No driver was paralyzed or failed to return to competition. So thatll give us just another excuse to go to Florida.. He became a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2017 with Journey. I look forward to honoring all three of these individuals in December.. Like most young men in the 60s, Frey wanted to go drag racing. But I dont want to be a guy that piecemeals something together and goes out there and thinks that Im doing something, because that isnt how I was raised, Dixon, whose father Larry Dixon Sr. also raced in Top Fuel, said. According to GoHorseShow.com, A few years later, having grown frustrated with showing, Carpenter decided to trade horses for NASCAR and move to North Carolina. As an owner, Gwynn fielded a very competitive TF car for Mike Dunn for close to a decade. She began as a crew member for her fathers team by cleaning parts and working on the car. Roland Leong, one of the most successful NHRA team owners of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, will be enshrined into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony in May at the Honolulu Country Club. Garlits went through many Swamp Rats over the years, but none captivated Messners interest as much as the Swamp Rat III that won the Riverside event in 1961. As the NHRA record holder in almost every imaginable professional category including championships (16), final rounds (264), race wins (155), round wins (1421) and No. In 1936, he drove one solo 3,254 miles in 24 hours at 153 mph, setting a record unbeaten until 2005 by an eight-man team. At the age of 19, Linda married Ted Jones, who was a drag racer and had a dream of owning his local dragstrip in Kettlersville, Ohio. The equine industry mourned the loss of Doug Carpenter when he passed shortly before the 2020 NRHA Futurity. Any other time, Messner could be seen almost every week at the races helping some team try to win the Top Eliminator prize. SPEEDSPORT.com is a part of the NASCAR Digital Media Network, John Force (center) was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame on Thursday night. She suffered two terrible crashes in 2005 but came back in 2006 and had a solid campaign that season. On his way to his second title, he swept the grueling Western Swing through Denver, Seattle, and Sonoma, Calif., that features non-stop activity in three far-flung venues with wildly different conditions. It took some time for the track to find its groove, but it did with the help of the muscle car guys from across New Jersey who came to race. Yeah, in that moment. made some great memories for some people. Don Schumacher Racing's Leah Pruett has been selected by the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) to serve as the Honorary Chairperson for the Hall's upcoming Class of 2021 . His knowledge, guidance, and leg work to promote the NRHA Sales resulted in an improved sale and stronger market for yearlings, broodmares, and show horses, noted Melanie Smith, one of the many who nominated Doug to the NRHA Hall of Fame. He was the first drag racer to be honored. Larry Dixon won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 2002, 2003 and 2010. . Visalia Pillars of Fame inductees When Visalia's Shirley Shahan, now Shirley Bridges, is mentioned as one . His biggest win to date came in 2009 at the National Reining Breeders Classic, when he rode Wound By Juice to win the Level 4 Championship, worth $37,783. The MSHFA Class of 2023 was unveiled in a press conference during the Racing Goes Safer seminar by Levy and 2015 MSHFA inductee and star road racer Tommy Kendall. Force was the first drag racer to earn Driver of the Year recognition for all American Motor Racing (1996); being voted No. All of the inductees, even in the past and those to come, Im excited to be a part of it, said Force, who was introduced by his long-time friend, confidant and former publicist David Densmore. As vice president of USAC Properties, he oversaw land-speed-record runs. However, he said he doesnt have any imminent plans to return to competition when the season opens in mid-March at Gainesville, Fla. If it happens, great. He built the Corvette SS and Corvette Grand Sport, and influential CERV I and II racing research vehicles. Its members work to raise money to preserve the donated artifacts, including historical literature, records, photos, film, clothing, equipment, trophies, etc. One of the attributes we look at for the Hall of Fame is character. Levy said the organization will announce the full list of 2021 inductees sometime this month. Force drives the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car and will kick off a new season on the drag strip at the AMALIE Motor Oil . So I ended up running that car way more than I ever thought I wouldand had a blast . Carlisle Will Mark a Big Honda Civic Anniversary. In 2018, Carpenter began providing support to the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales, which flourished under his long-time relationships throughout the horse industry and vision for achieving big goals. Vazquezs enthusiasm for learning about the sport helped him first become an NRHA Million Dollar Rider in 2015, and his lifetime earnings in the show ring have just passed $1.5 million. Veteran NASCAR driver and current spotter Tim Fedewa joined this weeks episode of Fast Car 2 NASCAR with Mike Wallace to talk more about his current role. From seventhto secondTO THE LEAD Dale Nottestad is our featured driver on this weeks Fight For The Flag for his rebound performance at the Big 8 Late Model Spring Classic at Rockford Speedway. He took a big chance on believing in me, and we quickly became lifelong friends. 2 drag racer in the NHRAs first 50 years behind only Garlits, Force won 10 straight Funny Car titles from 1993 through 2002 highlighted by a 1996 season in which he won 13 of 19 events and was named Driver of the Year for all American motorsports. He was a mentor to so many people in the industry, and a true ambassador for the sport.. Since he was named the NHRAs rookie of the year in 1995, Dixon has driven for team owners Don The Snake Prudhomme, Alan Johnson, the Dote Family, and Australias Rapisarda Autosport International. 106. The team won the event, and this started a lifelong friendship, with Sonny traveling all around the West Coast and as far East as Florida to help the Garlits team win many races. The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, home of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, announced its Class of 2020 inductees as well as the recipients of the Founders Award, which will honor Don Prieto, and the Patricia Garlits Memorial Award, which will be presented to Etta Glidden. He did that to study and learn. National Events (250) . Steve Plueger, my brother Louie, Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, I wouldnt be standing here without them because I was a real loser, Force continued. Shelly Anderson Payne Growing up in a trailer park, you found the first thing with wheels that could get you out of there. The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame honored its 2018 inductees Thursday in Gainesville, Fla., adding Jeb Allen, Kelly Brown, Gary Densham, Roy Fjastad, Jim Oddy, and Ollie Riley, and Greg . Gerber Collision & Glass enters strategic partnership with NHRA YES Program International Drag Racing Hall of Fame announces 2020 Inductees and Honorees Robert "Bones" Balogh, Lee Beard,. Like many parents, he is delighted when she outscores him.. Ted then started Masters Entertainment Group. Balogh was one of the most respected drivers and engine builders during the period of drag racings infamous Gasser Wars of the 1960s best remembers as the driver of Big John Mazmanians famed red 1941 Willys A/Gas class car that was first powered by Baloghs supercharged small block Chevy, and later by a supercharged Chrysler Hemi, which proved to be nearly unbeatable with Balogh at the wheel. Including the Class of 2022, 278 "Heroes of Horsepower" are in the MSHFA. Meyer went on to become one of drag racings most successful drivers, and with the exception of a six month period, was the engine tuner on each of his cars. Rounding out his top five wins was his 2012 NRHA Derby Non Pro Level 4 Championship on Moonshine Juice, where he won $15,604. When the Garlits team was in California, they could always be found at Messners home in Santa Ana, pitted on his front lawn and the street repairing the Swamp Rat for the next event. His belief that one day he would be champion was a view not shared by others in the sport at the time. Force drives the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car and will kick off a new season on the drag strip at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Florida this weekend. Thursdays induction at the Hilton Convention Center completed a Hall of Fame Grand Slam for 73-year-old Force who was inducted into the Intl Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega, Ala., in 2008, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2012, the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame at Fort Worth in 2011, the California Sports Hall of Fame at Alta Loma in 2017 and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame at Darlington, S.C., in 2019. He is a man of distinguished character, generous spirit, and unbridled enthusiasm both within the horse industry and throughout his personal and business life.. I met Doug probably 40 years ago, and he was very quiet and private about many areas of his life. In 1995 he won the Australian Top Fuel championship. As a journalist, Prieto was nicknamed The Louisiana Lip for prodding at some of the sacred cows of drag racing and the emerging performance automotive aftermarket. Why am I still doing it at this age? Enriquezs racing career has been linked with his friend and fellow Hall of Famer Gene Adams in the late 1960s-early 1970s in what was collectively known as Jr. Fuel dragsters. Motorsports Hall of Fame of America's Class of 2023 Features NASCAR, NHRA and More. While he never won a Winston World Championship in the NHRA, he finished second three times, and was third three times across his 15 years of competition. Staff Report March 10, 2023. even banned for awhile by the sanctioning body. He placed first in the prelims and came back in front of a crowd of more than 6,000 people to win his first AQHA world championship. He built and raced an A/Fuel dragster on the Nostalgia circuit. I didnt even know I could be or was in the running for it. She began racing when her husband Mo bought her a red 64 Mustang and she won her very first race the day afterward. In 1965, Raceway Park opened and would be forever linked to the Old Bridge Township. Gosh, its hard enough to find funding to go racing, let alone in the middle of a pandemic. With his good history at the Sacramento Mile, his eyes are set on the May 13th race for another win. 1. Already racing in Old Bridge, the brothers began looking for land in the area, as the town was receptive to a drag strip and had existing ordinances for building and operating race tracks. John Force, Shelly Anderson Payne, Ron Attebury, Sonny Messner, Carol "Bunny" Burkett, Graeme Cowin, Vinny and Richard Napp, Bob Frey, and Linda Jones will be the newest inductees into the Don. He was back in a car to start 2008 and, after winning two championships with Austin Coil and 12 more with Coil and Bernie Fedderly, he won his 15th with Mike Neff as crew chief in 2010 and his 16th with Jimmy Prock making the tune-up calls in 2013. Over 85,000 fans jammed Raceway Park for that first NHRA Summernationals. We are honored and thrilled to be included in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America class of 2023, Drs. drag racing fans and racers. Under Smart Like Juices name, Vazquezs equine business Smart Like Juice LLC recently became the newest NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner. Hall of Fame: Posthumous awards honor men in three sports - Yahoo News It took all day to run all the cars down the drag strip. SPEED SPORTs Alan Cavanna catches you up on that and more in this weeks edition of Sealed Under Pressure Spotlight presented by Cometic Gasket. Did you miss Kyle Buschs dramatic win at Talladega, or Brandon Overtons $50,000 triumph? Linda did everything from running the pit gate to managing the concession stands, and handling racer complaints in the bottom of the tower where she managed prize money payout. Im thankful for all the opportunities I have.. The man who popularized the Bonneville Salt Flats for racing set more speed records than anyone. Renowned chassis builder Attebury began his car building at the age of 5, when his mother found him taking body panels off the family tractor. Luckily for us, his zest for the world of reining is infectious, she said. Then after the race, Linda would work with the track operator to financially settle up the event representing IHRA. I dont have a lot of words for it yet.". Olvey and Trammell. When Sonny found out, he wanted to be a part of the recreation, so a plan was worked out; Sonny would pay for all the materials and parts. Due to his knowledge of the sport, he opened his own business, Rocket Industries, a leader in the performance parts and equipment provider for drag racers in Australia. When Garlits formed the Drag Racing Museum in 1976, the hunt for all the Swamp Rats began and Sonny was very instrumental in locating many of the hard to find parts necessary to restore the old cars. A common thread among Vazquezs winningest horses? His broodmare Ms Hollywood Showtime, whose lifetime earnings exceed $350,000, produced the NRHA Hall of Fame mare Miss Tinseltown. In 2003 he won the Non Pro Level 4 Reserve Championship at the NRHA Futurity, winning $24,664 on Sugar Like Juice, and took third, and $18,457, in 2019 on Xtra Winding Step. GAINESVILLE, Fla. On Thursday night, 16-time NHRA world champion John Force was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 class. Then one day when Ted returned home from his job at WERT radio station and Linda told him that she had secured the money for the down payment to buy the track by borrowing the money from her mother, and the rest is history. The plan is to honor the 2020 class this March 15-16 in a pandemic-postponed ceremony and to celebrate the 2021 class September 29 at M1 Concourse at Pontiac, Mich. Gwynn was named one of the NHRAs 50 Greatest Drivers All-Time for his stellar accomplishments in a tragically truncated career. Later the longtime Salt Lake City mayor set 21 more records in office, including ones for Pontiac just before his death. Pete Brock (Sports Cars) Brock is best . Through last months Class of 2022 induction, 279 Heroes of Horsepower are currently in the MSHFA, a number that will grow to 288 with the 35th Induction Class. God protects me because of her.. NHRA Southeast Division Hall Of Fame Recieve 1 Spectator Admission to Events 2014 Nelson DesChamps 2014 Gary Johns 2014 Carl Weisinger NHRA Hall of Fame Committee Members (Past & Present) Bobby Boyd Buster Couch Lex Dudas Don Garlits William "Bill" Holt Art Malone Carl Weisinger. When Billy Meyer bought the IHRA from Larry Carrier, Ted and Linda left the IHRA for one year. He also bred and raised Tinseltown Lil Step, who went on to produce both Smart Tinseltown and Smart Lil Step. Theyre typically ones he bred and raised, and many are sired by his standout stallion, NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Smart Like Juice. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame (IMHOF) is a hall of fame located adjacent to the 2.66 mi (4.28 km) . Raceway Park had no problem booking a 32 Funny Car field, including hometown hero Jungle Jim Liberman. And I apparently seem to stay busy without it. From 1974 to 81, he captured a record eight straight AMA National Enduro Championships. That was the turning point in his career. The award is named for Hart, the longtime Reporter-News sports writer who, in one way or another over his career, wrote about many of the honorees. With the pandemic, I thought that everything would get shut down, and some of the events that we were booked into did get shut down because of not allowing spectators. Each of the MSHFAs inductees is elected by a straight vote of 200 motorsports experts. All logos and images are reserved. To be included in the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, to be in Don Garlits house here, it means a lot.. Robert Bones Balogh, Lee Beard, Don Enriquez. In the 1920s, he raced trains from Salt Lake City to Wendover and from NYC to San Francisco. In 1989, Hill launched his Roy Hill School of Drag Racing out of his home base in Sophia, N.C., where has trained and tutored hundreds of students ranging from children learning the sport in Jr. Dragsters to aspiring professionals to fans who want to understand how to drive a drag racing vehicle.