Dixon won his first NHRA national event in just his second start and went on . In 1966 while at Atco, Bob learned they were looking for a track announcer. His three crowns match those of legends Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney, Gary Scelzi, Antron Brown, and current Top Fuel king Steve Torrence. Burkett passed away in April 2020 after leaving a mark on the sport of drag racing. 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. He won his 16th championship in 2013. 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. We also will celebrate 20 years of the Reining Horse Foundation. 2021 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champion will win an unprecedented $350,000. Because of Duntov, Corvettes raced and won at Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans, captured countless sports car and drag racing championships and set numerous speed records. Larry Dixon Jr. has won an NHRA Top Fuel championship by a whopping 330 points over his closest rival and lost another by merely two points. 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 raced at the Indianapolis 500 six times, finishing sixth in 51. But on the other side of it, I had other people who had an epiphany, of sortsthey wanted to do a ride and they wanted to do it in 2020, do it while they can, he said. 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. The formal induction ceremonies were not held in 2020. Motorsports Hall of Fame of America's Class of 2023 Features NASCAR, NHRA and More. Sonny has lived his entire adult life dedicated to the sport of Drag Racing. It took all day to run all the cars down the drag strip. Friends and acquaintances remember the man as a mentor, a representative for the discipline, and the quintessential horseman. Hes also been successful in the show pen. Joses substantial accomplishments as a showman, owner, and a breeder are easily found within the record books of NRHA. Growing up in a trailer park, you found the first thing with wheels that could get you out of there. Share in the comments section below. Half of the voters are inductees themselves. Ed McCulloch delivered an IHRA World Championship in 1988 and a prestigious U.S. Nationals win in 1990 in the Miller Funny Car, and Cruz Pedregon would notch win the NHRA Winston World Championship in Funny Car in 1992, and won the U.S. Nationals three times in four years (1992, 1993 and 1995). All logos and images are reserved. SR-IIIB was destroyed in traveling accident in Southern Georgia in late 1961 so Garlits decided to recreate the car. The impact Charlie has had on the reining industry since the sports inception is almost immeasurable. The Summernationlas grew in popularity with the racers and fans due to the cooler springtime weather. Why am I still doing it at this age? 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. Bradleys 1976 NHRA Winternationals Top Fuel win kickstarted Atteburys car building and the demand for an Attebury car was on. Freys decades of involvement with the sport has also made him one of the most respected authorities on the history of drag racing. 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. Those 62 Wally trophies put him fifth among all pro NHRA racers and 10th overall in the series 70-year history. The Father of the Corvette turned Americas sports car into a racing juggernaut despite frequent opposition from GM upper management. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Drag racing at Raceway Park ceased in 2018 after 53 years of exciting professional and amateur drag racing. The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame inducted eight new members in a ceremony Thursday night in Gainesville. After driving, Shelly went on to ESPN as a drag racing commentator. 2. 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. She continued to be a formative opponent throughout the years. 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. He and his brother campaigned a front engine Top Gas dragster for two years. Dottie Smith, president of the Midwest Reining Horse Association, has watched his progress in the show pen. Dixon said the news of his selection hasnt taken over my life because we took off this (past) weekend. 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. Doug made incredible contributions to NRHA in numerous ways. Hill was one of the stalwarts of the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class during its heyday on the IHRA circuit from the early 1970s into the 1990s. Thanks to the momentum he helped create, the 2021 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champion will win an unprecedented $350,000. 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). The 35th Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Induction Celebration will honor the next class of racing royalty at the Motorsports Hall of Fame's home in Daytona Beach, Florida. 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. nhra, ahra, nascar, and ataa. He built a long line of hot rods that were featured in magazines and on several magazine covers. Sonny is a wonderful ambassador for the Sport and the Drag Racing Museum. Fifteen years before that, at Memphis, he was airlifted to a hospital, unconscious and with a broken leg following a ghastly accident that actually jarred one eyeball from its socket. Dixon earned back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003 and again in 2010. His pride in his daughter, Mariana, was unrivaled. Biloxi Dragway (1957-1967) 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. As the Professional Race Pilots Associations first president, Chester fathered todays Formula 1. Etta served as crew chief keeping the team organized and was there to assist in any way possible, working on the car with her sons with Bobs direction, yet being a mother at the track and at home. I dont really know a life without it. In 154 NASCAR Cup Series starts from 1949-57, the Fort Payne, Ala. native scored 19 wins, 33 poles and 83 Top 10s. His broodmare Ms Hollywood Showtime, whose lifetime earnings exceed $350,000, produced the NRHA Hall of Fame mare Miss Tinseltown. With 62 victories, hes second only in the Top Fuel class to 82-time winner Tony Schumacher. Due to his wealth of knowledge, he has written columns in National Dragster and on DragRaceCentral.com. Author: 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. The man who popularized the Bonneville Salt Flats for racing set more speed records than anyone. When Billy Meyer bought the IHRA from Larry Carrier, Ted and Linda left the IHRA for one year. 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. The NHRA has lifted its indefinite suspension of Dixon, and he has renewed his Top Fuel license. I dont know what my life would be like without it.. Voted No. 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. Ted and Linda in all would own four drag strips, including one they build from the ground up in Van Wert Ohio. SPEED SPORTs Alan Cavanna catches you up on that and more in this weeks edition of Sealed Under Pressure Spotlight presented by Cometic Gasket. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Beard has created an enviable record of accomplishments in the drag racing world as a crew chief, engine tuner and team manager. She would promote her crew to others, which led to many of them becoming crew members on Top Fuel teams and some even becoming accomplished drivers themselves. The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing has announced its newest inductees for its 2023 Hall of Fame and boy is it a list! From 1974 to 81, he captured a record eight straight AMA National Enduro Championships. He also bred and raised Tinseltown Lil Step, who went on to produce both Smart Tinseltown and Smart Lil Step. In the 1970s, Olvey developed the first U.S. traveling motorsports medical team for what is todays IndyCar Series. In 2020 he was named the No. 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, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing announces 2023 Hall of Fame inductees. He built and raced an A/Fuel dragster on the Nostalgia circuit. As vice president of USAC Properties, he oversaw land-speed-record runs. Carpenter was also one of the visionaries behind the NRHA Futurity Challenge, the goal of which is to substantially increase the purse at the NRHAs most prestigious event. If it wasnt for her, Id be lost, shes my Mother Teresa. In 2020, the group managed to double the added money for the Adequan North American Affiliate Championships, guarantee $60,000 to the Level 4 Non Pro Futurity Champion, and awarded a historic quarter-million dollars to the 2020 Level 4 Open Futurity Champion. Tales of Carpenters love for horses abound. Her racing career path went from being a local racer to becoming a regular on national tours in the United States and Canada. 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.. I have learned so much from him. . In the early 2000s, Attebury was bitten by the driving bug again. 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. 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. 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. The formal induction ceremonies were not held in 2020. Ted was able to talk the track owner into selling Kettlersville Drag Strip, agreeing to make monthly payments. Its very humbling, and Im very flattered. A Anderson, Buddy Anderson, Ernest "Red" B Beadle, Raymond Benham, Crawford (1941-1991) Bernstein, Kenny Boyd, Elisha Breithaupt, Don Buff, Willard Burkhart, Mike C In 2007, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and he became a member of the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 2006. Next year's black-tie affair will be held March 6-7, 2023. The equine industry mourned the loss of Doug Carpenter when he passed shortly before the 2020 NRHA Futurity. 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. The former New Jersey modified driver innovated ways to manage teams and became one of the sports most prolific winners. He raced his last car, a Gas Modified roadster in Bonneville in 2012. Upcoming Book. Gwynn was named one of the NHRAs 50 Greatest Drivers All-Time for his stellar accomplishments in a tragically truncated career. 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). We try to go to Florida a couple of times a year, just to thaw out. He built the Corvette SS and Corvette Grand Sport, and influential CERV I and II racing research vehicles. So I ended up running that car way more than I ever thought I wouldand had a blast . Theyre typically ones he bred and raised, and many are sired by his standout stallion, NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Smart Like Juice. In 1973 he won the Bakersfield WCS, the WCS finals at Sears Point, and was named the Most Improved Pro Driver in Division 7. He served on the NRHA Board of Directors and Executive Committee for several years. Forces journey is truly the American dream rags to riches story. 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. 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. 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. 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. However, he said, Im really proud of the class Im with.. He won both contests. Cousin Luke Horning is this weeks featured driver on SPEED SPORTs Fight For The Flag, brought to you by Curb Records. There is such excitement at being able to finally recognize all of these honorees, said Leslie Baker, Executive Director of the RHF. 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. 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. Raceway Park had no problem booking a 32 Funny Car field, including hometown hero Jungle Jim Liberman. The nickname changed to The Wavemaker, and his very pointed critiques were both lauded and hated, but their points were most often on target. Carlisle Will Mark a Big Honda Civic Anniversary. We may earn money from the links on this page. He started the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in 2002 and, in 2014, opened The Darrell Gwynn Quality of Life Chapter of The Buoniconti Fund. Those are the words that keep coming back to me, because its a bit of a shock, I guess. She suffered two terrible crashes in 2005 but came back in 2006 and had a solid campaign that season. 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.
Can You Get Drunk Off Margarita Mix,
Vintage Barq's Root Beer Bottle,
What Is A Key Characteristic Of Plyometric Exercise?,
Maximale Steigung Rampe Hubwagen,
Articles N