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. Two of the inductees at the forefront of safety improvements are Drs. 3. The formal induction ceremonies were not held in 2020. He was a truck driver before making the switch to drag racing in 1971, driving the ex-Jack Chrisman rear-engine Mustang Funny Car. Enriquez raced with Adams for 33 years, moving on from the injected front-engined dragsters to nitro-fueled injected Funny Cars and later moved into the emerging nostalgia drag racing cars in the 1980s. 2004 - Prince, the late George Harrison, Traffic, ZZ Top, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne, the Dells and Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner are welcomed into the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of F Raceway Park launched the careers of several drag racers and was home to some of drag racings most memorable moments, including the famed Don Garlits SR30 blow over in 1986. A few years later, she switched to Top Fuel dragsters, where she not only drove the car but also worked on it. Since then, he has always helped this sport grow. He returned to the NRBC winners circle in 2018 on Like Shiner for an additional $30,000 in earnings. 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. He also located many of the cars in the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing that are on display today. The next class of racing legends takes a bow to the wayback machine, as several inductees in the 2023 class made their marks more than a half century ago. In 154 NASCAR Cup Series starts from 1949-57, the Fort Payne, Ala. native scored 19 wins, 33 poles and 83 Top 10s. Although Burkett had tons of success, she also had her misfortunes. Though Minor left active participation in drag racing behind, he continued to participate in the sand drags as a racer and later as a chassis and vehicle builder. Doug liked to work behind the scenes. Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. McAlester Public Schools announced its selections for the McAlester Athletics Hall of Fame 2023 induction class this week. This division is home to names like Eddie Hill, Raymond Beadle, Kenny Bernstein, Bill Meyer and many more. In 1966 while at Atco, Bob learned they were looking for a track announcer. All of a sudden, he was building cars for the likes of Gary Beck, James Warren, Roger Coburn, and Dennis Baca. The Class of 2023 includes the Father of the Corvette and Corvette racing Zora Arkus-Duntov (Sports Cars), longtime USAC official and safety pioneer Henry Banks (Historic), Americas most successful enduro racer, Dick Burleson (Motorcycles), air racing superstar Art Chester (Aviation), one of NASCARs most innovative crew chiefs, Ray Evernham (Stock Cars), early NASCAR fan favorite Fonty Flock (Historic), one of the NHRAs 50 Greatest All-Time Drivers, Darrell Gwynn (Drag Racing), prolific land speed record-setter Ab Jenkins (Speed Records) and two men who revolutionized racetrack emergency services, saving countless lives and careers, Drs. The teams that I got to compete on, it takes an awful lot to compete at the level for a championship. He received the Don Garlits Pioneer award. He built and raced his first car at the age of 20. During their tenure in open-wheel racing, the only deaths were from non-survivable injuries. With 62 victories, hes second only in the Top Fuel class to 82-time winner Tony Schumacher. His drag racing efforts got underway in 1978, teaming with Hall of Fame driver, Gary Beck in a Top Fuel dragster which produced an overwhelming demonstration of performance in 1983, setting an amazing 17 of 18 quickest runs in the sports history to that point, and won the NHRAs Top Fuel World Championship. She also had two subsequent battles with cancer, but these misfortunes did not defeat her, and she continued racing until 2015. He brings his seemingly tireless enthusiasm for reining and life to each of our events. But he said, Slap me if I ever complain. 4 driver on the ANDRA Top 10 drivers list. Cowin was a trucker with a need for speed who began his racing career in 1973 when he and his wife invested everything they had and purchased the famed Psycho nitro-fueled drag car. My wife Laurie, shes stood by my side, and I really do love her and appreciate her. Aside from his on-track racing legacy, Meyer will be best known and built the then cutting-edge Texas Motorplex in 1986 in the Dallas-area suburb of Ennis, Texas. While in Top Fuel she won four national events and set a speed record in 1996 that stood for several years. The day before, Dixon will unveil a statue bearing his likeness that eventually will be on permanent display at the Hall of Fame Museum at Daytona Beach, Fla. Ive been to Daytona, took the tour, went to the museum, and made a lap around the track in the tour bus. My dad raced. 1 qualifying positions (165), Force has won at least once in 34 of the last 35 NHRA campaigns a streak that includes a wire-to-wire triumph in last years 4Wide Nationals at Charlotte. So it really caught me by surprise. Throughout the decade of the 80s and 90s, not only did Minors drag racing operations attract top-level driving talent. Whether its in the show pen, through breeding great horses, or supporting his fellow reiners, there is no doubt that Jose Vazquez will continue to be a part of the reining industry for years to come. The track caught the attention of NHRA, which held the Springnationals at Raceway Park in 1968. The conflict grew, eventually culminating in a grueling nine-month trial. Anderson-Payne, the daughter of IDRHoF member and champion Alcohol Funny Car driver Brad Anderson, grew up in the sport of drag racing. He won both contests. . 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 Garlits Museum of Drag Racings International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. The Patricia Garlits Memorial Award is given out annually to a woman who has contributed to the sport of drag racing through their professional activities- at the track-and/or their personal activities-off the track-which promotes the sport in a positive manner or to the success of the sport. Glidden stood beside her legendary husband, Pro Stock superstar and Hall of Fame driver Bob Glidden, throughout his checkered career of 85 NHRA class wins and 10 NHRA World Championships. Hes also been successful in the show pen. Dottie Smith, president of the Midwest Reining Horse Association, has watched his progress in the show pen. For details on how to become a Hall of Fame table host or major event donor, contact RHF Executive Director Leslie Baker at lbaker@nrha.com or (405) 946-7400, ext. even banned for awhile by the sanctioning body. If it wasnt for her, Id be lost, shes my Mother Teresa. The Napp brothers were involved in drag racing at an early age. The induction dinner and ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 12, in Gainesville, Fla. at the Wyndham Garden Hotel Gainesville. Staff Report March 10, 2023. Trained at the Technical University of Berlin, Duntov was a gifted driver, twice winning his class at Le Mans (1954-55) and setting records at Pikes Peak and Daytona. Redline Technology, Inc. SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION 4 HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS, THE BIG COUNTRY RACE WAY IN TEXAS JOINS DIVISION 4 OF NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK, Texas Area Drag Geezers Christmas Luncheon. She began racing when her husband Mo bought her a red 64 Mustang and she won her very first race the day afterward. After the Mazmanian partnership dissolved, he teamed with Gary Dubach and Joe Pisano in 1966-67 and with Tim Woods of Stone, Cook and Woods fame to campaign a 1968 Shelby Mustang the Swindler A car on a national match race tour. Im carrying on. He also bred and raised Tinseltown Lil Step, who went on to produce both Smart Tinseltown and Smart Lil Step. On top of all he has done for Drag Racing, Sonny is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. The former New Jersey modified driver innovated ways to manage teams and became one of the sports most prolific winners. News of his selection shouldnt have been all that startling to Dixon. We want to thank the many who have supported us and those from whom we learned on our journey to make motorsports safer.. I absolutely love being in that car. Later, Evernhams own team won 23 poles and 13 Cup races. 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. 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. Among those honored were Preston Davis, Dennis Priddle, Gas Ronda, Marvin. Our thanks go to Stand 21s Yves Morizot and the Racing Goes Safer Foundation for making that possible.. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) announced its 2023 Induction Class Saturday during the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend. He also won eight straight gold medals in the International Six Days Enduro, sometimes referred to as the Olympics of Motorcycling. After the record 3-time AMA Amateur Athlete of the Year retired from riding, he developed and marketed off-road riding apparel and accessories. As the Professional Race Pilots Associations first president, Chester fathered todays Formula 1. When I got the call from Don, well, it made me emotional. nhra, ahra, nascar, and ataa. So from that standpoint, its going OK. Were not running it enough to put food on the table or anything like thator pay for college. During WWII, he helped develop the tide-turning P-51 Mustang. He competed in 112 NHRA National events, and reached the final round 22 times a final round appearance record of 20%, and won 12 of those (a 55% winning percentage). She continued to be a formative opponent throughout the years. 2 racer behind only Don Garlits in the NHRAs first 50 years; and being inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona Beach, Fla. (2008), the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame in Fort Worth (2011), the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Ala., (2012), the California Sports Hall of Fame in Alta Loma (2017), and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (2019). A common thread among Vazquezs winningest horses? When Billy Meyer bought the IHRA from Larry Carrier, Ted and Linda left the IHRA for one year. Then when IHRA lost the editor of Drag Review Magazine, Larry Carrier asked Linda to work overtime as editor of Drag Review until someone could be hired to do that job while still keeping up with her duties as the CFO of IHRA. Three-time Top Fuel champion received the good news on New Year's Eve. What made Raceway Park great was the off-season nitro match racing during the 70s, which they would hold throughout the year. His excuse was he was making the tractor lighter so it would go faster. Burleson started riding at 18. In the meantime, Sonny would have the car as if it were his very own. 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. Hall Of Fame (104) the list. 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,. In 2018, NHRA inducted Donnie into the Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2017. 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. Founders Award: Bob Frey. He also drew top-level team personnel to the teams. I dont really know a life without it. The National Reining Horse Association has a history steeped with great and dedicated horsemen and women. Linda now is the CFO at Masters Entertainment Group. Dixon won his first NHRA national event in just his second start and went on . Dixon earned back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003 and again in 2010. His knowledge also made him an excellent choice to be the emcee for the annual International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and he graciously volunteered his services to the IDRHoF for 15 years, providing his knowledge, entertainment, and drag racing jokes as only Bob Frey could do. This led to Linda becoming the CFO of not only the IHRA, but the Bristol Dragway and Bristol NASCAR track as well. Force was the first drag racer to earn Driver of the Year recognition for all American Motor Racing (1996); being voted No. 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. The Summernationlas grew in popularity with the racers and fans due to the cooler springtime weather. Larry Dixon learned he had been selected for induction to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. drag racing fans and racers. 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 . Joses substantial accomplishments as a showman, owner, and a breeder are easily found within the record books of NRHA. Carpenter, the quintessential horseman with an eye for greatness, continues to impact the industry through the many horses he bought and sold, and with his legacy of working tirelessly to promote reining, and reiners. 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. And I apparently seem to stay busy without it. The inductees will be honored at the 33rd annual International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Banquet, to be held on Thursday, March 9, at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainesville, Fla. NHRA announcer Joe Castello will serve as the emcee. Bradleys 1976 NHRA Winternationals Top Fuel win kickstarted Atteburys car building and the demand for an Attebury car was on. And going down the racetrack, I really, really love it, Dixon said. Jose has been a member of our affiliate since the 1990s and earned his first major paycheck in Gordyville in 1999. Smith also recalled Carpenters little-known contributions to the sport. In the mid-1980s, a landmark case in Indiana resulted in laws that, to this day, prevent discrimination in the workplace against people with AIDS. I believe hes one of the oldest if not the oldest to win a bronze trophy, which he did so at the age of 90.. I think thats all dollar-driven, sponsorship, he said. So its not from lack of desire. Year Inducted: Name of Inducted: 1983: Bo Laws: 1983: Pete Robinson: 1983: Ernie Schorb: 1984: Raymond Godman: 1984: Marvin Schwartz: 1984: Tommy Shinholster: 1985 . 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. Upcoming Book. 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. Steve Plueger, my brother Louie, Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, I wouldnt be standing here without them because I was a real loser, Force continued. Eight years later, as a newly selected member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, he would say the same thing. After trying everything possible to borrow the down payment without success, Ted was depressed and ready to give up his dream of owning and operating a drag strip. He died in his final design, Swee Pea II, in 1949. He won his 16th championship in 2013. Stephen Olvey and Terry Trammell (Open Wheel). So I ended up running that car way more than I ever thought I wouldand had a blast . Roy Hill, Billy Meyer, and Larry Minor will be inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in March in Gainesville, Fla. in March. Trammell won the 2021 Louis Schwitzer Award for biomedical engineering advances for driver safety. 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. Flarida added, Charlie was one of my very first clients when I started my business. Donnie was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. This content is imported from YouTube. (NHRA photo), The Motorsports Authority - Copyright 2014-2023 - Turn 3 Media, LLC All Rights Reserved. In the 30s, he ran a series of aircraft-engine Mormon Meteors at Bonneville. Pete Brock (Sports Cars) Brock is best . The impact Charlie has had on the reining industry since the sports inception is almost immeasurable. Larry Dixon won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 2002, 2003 and 2010. . Author: Across his career, Beard scored 55 NHRA National event wins with 12 different drivers, in the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes. 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. 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. He also bought or sold other top performers including Jac Be Quick, Roosters Wrangler, Hes Dun his Time, and Bueno Chexinic. As USAC Director of Competition, he helped introduce numerous safety advances, including roll bars, fuel cells, fire-retardant uniforms and driver restraint systems. 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. 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. Voted No. Charles Vaughan NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award 2021. Forces journey is truly the American dream rags to riches story. 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. When I go and run match races with the single-seater and Im sitting in the car and back up from the burnout and am rolling up to stage the car . Slap me if I ever complain. DALLAS DECEMBER 27, 2016- The NHRA has announced today that Raymond Martin will be inducted into NHRA's South Central Division 4 Hall of Fame. 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. 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". 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.

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