He won his next world championship in 2010, becoming the oldest driver in the sport to win a championship. This attention to detail caught the attention of Shirley Muldowney who, in 1976, bought her first Attebury car. He took a chance and applied for the job and got it. Our thanks go to Stand 21s Yves Morizot and the Racing Goes Safer Foundation for making that possible.. They often could be found racing their hot rods on the front stretch of the Old Bridge Speedway, which was the closest legal place to race at the time. In the 30s, he ran a series of aircraft-engine Mormon Meteors at Bonneville. He began his racing career in Super Stock class with a Dodge Dart using Petty Enterprises-built and tuned Chrysler power. 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. In 1965, he did have the opportunity to do some drag racing and won in E/Stock Automatic at Vineland Speedway Drag Strip. Ive got it good. 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 . Theyre typically ones he bred and raised, and many are sired by his standout stallion, NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Smart Like Juice. The track caught the attention of NHRA, which held the Springnationals at Raceway Park in 1968. Its very humbling, and Im very flattered. 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. 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. In 2013, he created the Outlaw Nitro Funny Car Series, which became a huge success, bringing racers from across Australia and New Zealand together. The Division 4 Hall of Fame honors . Fonty Flock, Ray Evernham, Darrell Gwynn included in 10-member Hall Class. Any other time, Messner could be seen almost every week at the races helping some team try to win the Top Eliminator prize. the New Hampshire Hockey Hall of Fame was born and the inaugural class of twelve inductees was . The one thing that always impressed me about him, though, was that you never heard a conversation about Doug that had a negative note about him.. 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,. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame (IMHOF) is a hall of fame located adjacent to the 2.66 mi (4.28 km) . Out of respect for the Hall and the other honorees, Dixon kept the names of his Class of 2021 colleagues a secret. Each of the MSHFAs inductees is elected by a straight vote of 200 motorsports experts. 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. drag racing fans and racers. The impact Charlie has had on the reining industry since the sports inception is almost immeasurable. Why am I still doing it at this age? Burkett passed away in April 2020 after leaving a mark on the sport of drag racing. Each year, MSHFA classes are formally inducted in a celebration featuring motorsports legends and fellow Hall of Fame members at a black-tie gala. With 62 victories, hes second only in the Top Fuel class to 82-time winner Tony Schumacher. Gwynn was named one of the NHRAs 50 Greatest Drivers All-Time for his stellar accomplishments in a tragically truncated career. Apr. He knew he was hooked. The Napp family began looking for land to build a drag strip along the Golden State Parkway but it was outside their price range. 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. (NHRA photo), The Motorsports Authority - Copyright 2014-2023 - Turn 3 Media, LLC All Rights Reserved. Because I still love it. She began as a crew member for her fathers team by cleaning parts and working on the car. It is an honor to be among these famous drivers and officials. And going down the racetrack, I really, really love it, Dixon said. Throughout the decade of the 80s and 90s, not only did Minors drag racing operations attract top-level driving talent. I didnt race to make money, I raced because I loved it, Force said. 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. The equine industry mourned the loss of Doug Carpenter when he passed shortly before the 2020 NRHA Futurity. To this day Charlie still actively competes and shows the horses he loves so dearly in the sport that he has given so much of himself to, noted NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida. Steve Plueger, my brother Louie, Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, I wouldnt be standing here without them because I was a real loser, Force continued. But he said, Slap me if I ever complain. Itd be strange to not have drag racing. Among those honored were Preston Davis, Dennis Priddle, Gas Ronda, Marvin. 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. endorsed by. It took all day to run all the cars down the drag strip. Roy Hill, Billy Meyer, and Larry Minor will be inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in March in Gainesville, Fla. In the 1920s, he raced trains from Salt Lake City to Wendover and from NYC to San Francisco. NRHA Official Commentators to Call the Action for the All American Quarter Horse Congress Reining Futurity Open Finals, Gunnatrashya Reaches $9 Million Dollar Sire Milestone, NRHA Celebrates CINCH & Classic Equine Silver Anniversary Partnerships, 2023 NRHyA Art & Photo Contest Deadline Approaching, Taylor Sheridan Named NCEA 2023 Ring of Honor Recipient. Pete Brock (Sports Cars) Brock is best . Sonny is a wonderful ambassador for the Sport and the Drag Racing Museum. . She began racing when her husband Mo bought her a red 64 Mustang and she won her very first race the day afterward. Visalia Pillars of Fame inductees When Visalia's Shirley Shahan, now Shirley Bridges, is mentioned as one . With his casual manner, he strived to not just inform but also entertain not only hardcore drag racing fans but those new to the sport. At 24, Attebury had his first paying customer, Frank Bradley. Frey would become known as the voice of drag racing and was the only announcer to work in all the drag racing sanctioning bodies: NHRA, AHRA and IHRA. Luckily for us, his zest for the world of reining is infectious, she said. 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. The formal induction ceremonies were not held in 2020. 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. So its not from lack of desire. On top of all he has done for Drag Racing, Sonny is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. During their tenure in open-wheel racing, the only deaths were from non-survivable injuries. 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. 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. 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. I think Ive literally spent every year of my life at a dragstrip, at some point every year, Dixon said. Im a motorsports fan, and certainly to end up down there for this, of course, Dixon, 54, of suburban Indianapolis, said. Over the years, Prietos skills at extemporaneous speaking and the ability to present his thoughts on paper led him to public relations positions with the automotive trade associations. Forces journey is truly the American dream rags to riches story. As USAC Director of Competition, he helped introduce numerous safety advances, including roll bars, fuel cells, fire-retardant uniforms and driver restraint systems. During her years at IHRA, before the invention of the Compulink computer system, Linda supervised a crew of five women and invented a system to accurately keep track of qualifying, and eliminations in the timing tower at all IHRA national events. All logos and images are reserved. Legendary businessman, philanthropist, NASCAR Hall of Famer - NHRA A few years later, she switched to Top Fuel dragsters, where she not only drove the car but also worked on it. Flarida added, Charlie was one of my very first clients when I started my business. Dixon said, Its quite an honor. 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.. My dad raced. This led to Linda becoming the CFO of not only the IHRA, but the Bristol Dragway and Bristol NASCAR track as well. Frey brought a new dimension to the sport of drag racing, not only at the tracks but in broadcasting. Thinking the 1981 AQHA World Championship Show would be his last, he didnt even bother to change out of his work shirt when he showed Karen Sullivans 3-year-old mare, Miss Docs Melody, in the first go of junior western pleasure. I was told there are only 30-some drag racers in the Hall, and I could probably think of 30 that would be on my hero list that arent in the hall. The induction dinner and ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 12, in Gainesville, Fla. at the Wyndham Garden Hotel Gainesville. 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. I dont know what my life would be like without it.. Unofficial Camping World points standings, Gerber Collision joins Scrappers Racing for next two NHRA national events, Steve Johnson Racing announces Be A Technician scholarship, More than racing: Stage shows, bands, four-wide skydive on tap for Charlotte event, Toddler Tricycle Nationals will be an epic battle for the (early) ages in Charlotte, Pete Berner added to Elite Motorsports Mountain Motor Pro Stock program, NASCAR vs. NHRA grudge matches to kick off Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Bandimere Speedway to host final NHRA national event in 2023 as family looks for new location to continue legacy, New National Dragster profiles influential players; Phoenix, Pomona coverage, Versatran ready to hit the dragstrip with Paul Richards Racing in Charlotte, Nostalgia Pro Stock cars to be featured at Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Victory in Vegas: Tony Stewart collects his first NHRA national event win, Alex Laughlin looks to add to four-wide resum in Dunn/KGC Funny Car, Electric Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800 prototype targets new NHRA records, NHRA welcomes Qlisp Raceway Park to NHRA Member Track Network, Caruso to introduce Big Jeff Audio to NHRA beginning in Charlotte, Fineline Graphics named Preferred Signage and Graphics Company of NHRA, Team Kalitta front-halves chassis damaged in Pomona accident for Las Vegas, Drag racings ultimate thrill ride: NHRA Four-Wide Nationals set for Las Vegas, Craig Breedlove, America's first 600-mph racecar driver, passes at 86 years of age, Gerber Collision & Glass named title sponsor of Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Funny Car champ Ron Capps will run SRX Series event at Eldora Speedway, John Force, J.R. Todd get tangled up in top-end crash in Winternationals qualifying, GETTRX joins Matt Hartford Racing for Pomona and beyond, New National Dragster issue packed with race coverage, racer features, and more, John Force Racing meets WWE Superstars during special crossover event, Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge returns this weekend in Pomona, Toyota launches Supra Showdown program for select NHRA events, Jasmine Salinas takes first Top Fuel passes in anticipation of 2024 debut, International Drag Racing Hall of Fame announces 2020 Inducteesand Honorees. While contributing as a Gold level donor to the Reining Horse Foundation, Doug created revenue and recognition for the Foundation through the Celebrity Slide with the Professional Bull Riders and the Make a Wish Foundation in Oklahoma City, recalled friend, NRHA Hall of Fame member, and former NRHA President Frank Costantini. Vinny Napp passed away in September 2000 and Richard Napp died in December 2001. Lynch is a 2006 . I dont know what my life would be like without drag racing. NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame He has worked for some of the most prestigious race teams in the sport from the 1980s and into the second decade of the 21st Century and won the 1989 NHRA Top Fuel world championship with the late Gary Ormsby and, as team manager, the 1992 NHRA Funny Car world championship with Cruz Pedregon at Larry Minor Motorsports and the 2009 NHRA Top Fuel world championship with Tony Schumacher at Don Schumacher Racing.