Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

Hall of fame for American motorsports personalities

29°11′8″N 81°4′10″W﻿ / ﻿29.18556°N 81.06944°W﻿ / 29.18556; -81.06944

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) is hall of fame that honors motorsports competitors and contributors from the United States from all disciplines, with categories for Open Wheel, Stock Cars, Powerboats, Drag Racing, Motorcycles, Sports Cars, Aviation, at Large, Off-Road and Historic. Periodic recognition is given to specialty categories including Speed Records, Business and Technology. Its annual Induction Ceremony is attended by notables throughout the motorsports community and is reported on widely.

## History

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The MSHFA was incorporated in 1986 as an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by civic leaders of the City of Novi, Michigan, led by Founding Chairman Larry G. Ciancio. Its inaugural Induction Ceremony was held in 1989. Ron Watson was its founding President and continued to serve in that capacity until his untimely death in October 2019. He was succeeded as president at his request by noted motorsports author and historian and longtime MSHFA board member George Levy.

The mission of the MSHFA is to “further the American core values of leadership, creativity, originality, teamwork and spirit of competition embodied in motorsports.”[1] The MSHFA is operated by the nonprofit Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation Inc.

## Induction

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### Induction process

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Induction eligibility is open to individuals who have participated in driving, piloting, owning, designing, building, supporting, maintaining, preparing, or promoting motorized vehicles to pursue speed, distance, or other records. To qualify for induction, candidates must either have been retired for at least three years or have been actively engaged at the highest level of their motorsports discipline for at least 20 years. Induction is restricted to United States citizens or non-citizens who have achieved notable motorsports accomplishments within the U.S.

Induction is decided by a straight vote among 200 racing experts: historians, experienced journalists, category experts and existing inductees. The voting process is overseen by certified accountants.

Every year there are two rounds of voting. The first is conducted among a 100-voter nominating committee to determine the six finalists in each category. The second, open to all 200 voters, decides that year's inductee in each category. Each inductee receives the Hall of Fame's prestigious “Horsepower” award — an original bronze statuette by renowned Ann Arbor, Michigan sculptor Michael Curtis. Curtis sculptures have been presented both to and by United States Presidents .

The inaugural Motorsports Hall of Fame of America class in 1989 featured Cannon Ball Baker (Motorcycles), James Doolittle (Aviation), A. J. Foyt (Open Wheel), Don Garlits (Drag Racing), Phil Hill (Sports Cars), Bill Muncey (Powerboats), Barney Oldfield (Historic) and Richard Petty (Stock Cars).

### Induction ceremony

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The annual Induction Ceremony is the MSHFA's premier event and takes place every March in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event incorporates motorsports legends past and present, just as it features new inductees on the main stage. Traditionally, each inductee is presented for induction by another prominent figure in the motorsports community. In 2019, multi-time champions Jimmie Johnson, Jack Beckman, Don Prudhomme and Scott Dixon, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, former American Suzuki Vice President Mel Harris and automotive designer Peter Brock took the stage and presented Tony Stewart, Don Schumacher, Linda Vaughn, Dario Franchitti, Augie Duesenberg, Kevin Schwantz and Phil Remington respectively for induction at the black-tie ceremony.

The Class of 2020 includes Red Byron (Historic), Chris Carr (Motorcycles), Floyd Clymer (At Large), Wally Dallenbach (Open Wheel), Rick Hendrick (Stock Cars), Jacky Ickx (Sports Cars), Tiny Lund (Historic), “Ohio George” Montgomery (Drag Racing) and Ivan “Ironman” Stewart (Off-Road).

The two-day induction experience includes several other events as well, including the Heroes of Horsepower reception held in the MSHFA museum the night before the black-tie ceremony at which the new inductees unveil their permanent Hall of Fame sculptures. Additionally, the Heritage Luncheon spotlights the induction of the honorees in the Historic category. The Inductee Breakfast allows the incoming class and returning Hall of Famers to open up in a lively Q&A session. Admission to all events event is open to the public via tickets purchased in advance.

## Museum

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The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America museum on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway showcases vehicles and memorabilia from all forms of motorsports and attracts more than 100,000 visitors per year.

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America museum on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway welcomes more than 100,000 visitors[2] per year. The museum was originally located in Novi, MI, birthplace of the famous Novi Special Indianapolis 500 racecars. It later moved to the Detroit Science Center before relocating to Daytona Beach.[3][4] The museum is housed within the Ticket and Tours Building at Daytona International Speedway. Admission is open daily as part of regular speedway tours.

On display are vehicles and artifacts related to the Hall of Fame's inductees and achievements. Examples include historic racing vehicles, memorabilia, informational displays and plaques honoring the MSHFA's more than 260 inductees. There are also two movie theaters featuring motorsports content.

## Research

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The MSHFA also serves as a research organization, with a network of experts on motorsports topics. It fields a broad range of questions on motorsports topics from journalists, historians, researchers and individuals.

## Reception

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Various cars on display on the 31 degree banked track (the same dimensions as the Daytona 500 corner) at the Motorsports Hall of Fame at Daytona International Speedway.

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America's Induction Ceremony has been attended by major names in the motorsports world throughout its history. Recent Honorary chairmen have included Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey, 1978 Formula 1 World Champion Mario Andretti and 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch. Autoweek said of the 2019 induction, “Emceed by the best in the business, broadcaster, former driver and 2009 inductee David Hobbs... it was arguably the smoothest, best-run ceremony in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’s history.”[5] The announcements of each new class of inductees are covered by TV outlets, magazines and websites, including ESPN, Forbes, INDYCAR, Autoweek, and Racer.

Other publications such as Autocar and Car and Driver have lauded the museum and its exhibits as an enthusiast destination.

## Class of 2025

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* Skip Barber
* Miguel Duhamel
* Carl Haas
* Ed Iskenderian
* Dale Jarrett
* Tony Schumacher
* Bill Stroppe

## Class of 2024

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* Austin Coil
* Scott Dixon
* Jim Downing
* Dr. Bob Hubbard
* Bud Ekins
* Jimmie Johnson
* Paul Newman
* John Surtees

## Class of 2023

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* Zora Arkus-Duntov
* Henry Banks
* Dick Burleson
* Art Chester
* Ray Evernham
* Fonty Flock
* Darrell Gwynn
* Ab Jenkins
* Stephen Olvey and Terry Trammell

## Inductees

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Person | Category | Inducted

|
|

J. C. Agajanian[6] | At Large | 1992
Bobby Allison | Stock Cars | 1992
Davey Allison | Stock Cars | 2021
Donnie Allison[7] | Stock Cars | 2011
Joe Amato | Drag Racing | 2004
Mario Andretti | Open Wheel | 1990+
Michael Andretti | Open Wheel | 2008
Art Arfons | At Large | 1991
Dale Armstrong[8] | Drag Racing | 2010
Buck Baker | Stock Cars | 1998
Buddy Baker | Stock Cars | 2008
Cannonball Baker | Motorcycles | 1989
Ole Bardahl | Power Boats | 2014
Raymond Beadle | Drag Racing | 2014
Derek Bell[9] | Sports Cars | 2012
Kenny Bernstein[10] | Drag Racing | 2009
Tony Bettenhausen | Open Wheel | 1997
George Bignotti | At Large | 1993
John Bishop | Sports Cars | 2014
Keith Black | Drag Racing | 1995
Bob Bondurant | Sports Cars | 2003
Neil Bonnett[9] | Stock Cars | 2012
Geoff Brabham | Sports Cars | 2004
Everett Brashear[11] | Motorcycles | 2016
Clint Brawner | At Large | 1998
Craig Breedlove | At Large | 1993
Pete Brock | Sports Cars | 2022
Jimmy Bryan | Open Wheel | 1999
John Buttera[12] | Drag Racing | 2018
Red Byron | Historic | 2020
Malcolm Campbell | At Large | 1994
Bill Cantrell | Power Boats | 1992
Ricky Carmichael[13] | Motorcycles | 2015
Tom Carnegie | At Large | 2006+
Chris Carr | Motorcycles | 2020
Hélio Castroneves | Open Wheel | 2022
Colin Chapman | At Large | 1997
Dean Chenoweth | Power Boats | 1991
Gaston Chevrolet | Historic | 2002
Louis Chevrolet | Historic | 1995
Richard Childress[11] | Stock Cars | 2016
Joie Chitwood[8] | Historic | 2010
Art Chrisman | Drag Racing | 1997
Jim Clark | Open Wheel | 1990
Cook Cleland | Air Racing | 2000
Floyd Clymer | At Large | 2020
John Cobb | Historic | 2021
Jacqueline Cochran | Air Racing | 1993
Sid Collins[7] | At Large | 2011
Betty Cook | Power Boats | 1996
Earl Cooper | Historic | 2001
Briggs Cunningham | Sports Cars | 1997
Glenn Curtiss | Air Racing | 1990
Wally Dallenbach Sr. | Open Wheel | 2020
Jimmy Davis | Motorcycles | 1997
Tom D'Eath | Power Boats | 2000
Roger DeCoster | Motorcycles | 1994
Ralph DePalma | Historic | 1992
Pete DePaolo | Historic | 1995
Larry Dixon Jr. | Drag Racing | 2021
Mark Donohue | Sports Cars | 1990
Ed Donovan | Drag Racing | 2003
Jimmy Doolittle | Air Racing | 1989
Pop Dreyer[9] | Historic | 2012
Augie Duesenberg | Historic | 2019
Fred Duesenberg | Historic | 1997
Amelia Earhart | Air Racing | 1992
Dale Earnhardt | Stock Cars | 2002+
Chris Economaki | At Large | 1994
Vic Edelbrock[9] | At Large | 2012
Bill Elliott | Stock Cars | 2007+
Walker Evans[13] | At Large | 2015
Bill Falck | Air Racing | 1994
John Fitch | Sports Cars | 2007
Emerson Fittipaldi | Open Wheel | 2001
Tim Flock | Stock Cars | 1999
Carl Fisher | Historic | 2018
George Follmer | Sports Cars | 1999
Elliott Forbes-Robinson | Sports Cars | 2006
John Force | Drag Racing | 2008
Henry Ford | Historic | 1996
Danny Foster | Power Boats | 2005
A. J. Foyt | Open Wheel | 1989+
Bill France Jr. | Stock Cars | 2004+
Bill France Sr. | Stock Cars | 1990
Dario Franchitti | Open Wheel | 2019
Gary Gabelich[11] | At Large | 2016
Chip Ganassi[11] | Open Wheel | 2016
Don Garlits | Drag Racing | 1989
Richie Ginther | Sports Cars | 2008
Shav Glick | At Large | 2004
Bob Glidden | Drag Racing | 1994+
Paul Goldsmith | Stock Cars | 2008
Jeff Gordon | Stock Cars | 2018
Ricky Graham | Motorcycles | 2014
Andy Granatelli | At Large | 2001
Darryl Greenamyer | Air Racing | 1997
Peter H. Gregg | Sports Cars | 2000
Masten Gregory | Sports Cars | 2013
Dan Gurney | Sports Cars | 1991
Janet Guthrie | Open Wheel | 2021
Jim Hall | Sports Cars | 1994
Chip Hanauer | Power Boats | 1995+
Sam Hanks | Open Wheel | 2000
Bob Hannah | Motorcycles | 2000
Ray Harroun | Historic | 2000
C. J. "Pappy" Hart | Drag Racing | 1999
Nicky Hayden | Motorcycles | 2021
Hurley Haywood | Sports Cars | 2005+
Rick Hendrick | Stock Cars | 2020
Eddie Hill | Drag Racing | 2002
Phil Hill | Sports Cars | 1989
Tommy Hinnershitz | Historic | 2003
David Hobbs | Sports Cars | 2009
Al Holbert | Sports Cars | 1993
John Holman | At Large | 2005
Ted Horn | Open Wheel | 1993
Howard Hughes | Aviation | 2018
Tony Hulman | At Large | 1991
Denis Hulme | Sports Cars | 1998
Jacky Ickx | Sports Cars | 2020
Tommy Ivo | Drag Racing | 2005
Ned Jarrett | Stock Cars | 1997
Bill Jenkins | Drag Racing | 1996
Gordon Johncock | Open Wheel | 2002
Junior Johnson | Stock Cars | 1991+
Ricky Johnson[9] | Motorcycles | 2012
Warren Johnson[13] | Drag Racing | 2015
Parnelli Jones | At Large | 1992
Ted Jones | Power Boats | 2003
Connie Kalitta | Drag Racing | 1992
Chris Karamesines | Drag Racing | 2006
Tommy Kendall[13] | Sports Cars | 2015
Mel Kenyon | Open Wheel | 2003
Carl Kiekhaefer | Power Boats | 1998
Steve Kinser | Open Wheel | 2017
Dick Klamfoth | Motorcycles | 2017
Alan Kulwicki[8] | Stock Cars | 2010
Frank Kurtis | At Large | 1999
Terry Labonte | Stock Cars | 2017
Brad Lackey | Motorcycles | 2013
Dick LaHaie | Drag Racing | 2022
Eddie Lawson | Motorcycles | 2002
Joe Leonard | Motorcycles | 1991
Tony LeVier | Air Racing | 2001
Bernie Little | Power Boats | 1994
Frank Lockhart | Historic | 1999
Fred Lorenzen | Stock Cars | 2001
Tiny Lund | Historic | 2020
Arie Luyendyk | Open Wheel | 2014
Dick Mann | Motorcycles | 1993
Nigel Mansell | Open Wheel | 2006
Paul Mantz | Air Racing | 2002
Bart Markel | Motorcycles | 1999
Mark Martin[13] | Stock Cars | 2015
Banjo Matthews | Business | 2022
Rex Mays | Historic | 1995
Dave McClelland[11] | Drag Racing | 2016
Denise McCluggage | Media | 2022
Roger McCluskey[7] | Open Wheel | 2011
Ed McCulloch[7] | Drag Racing | 2011
Tom McEwen | Drag Racing | 2001
Jim McGee | Historic | 2007
Jeremy McGrath[8] | Motorcycles | 2010
Hershel McGriff | Stock Cars | 2006
Bruce McLaren | Sports Cars | 1995
Rick Mears | Open Wheel | 1998
Leo Mehl | Historic | 2007
Fred Merkel | Motorcycles | 2018
Louis Meyer | Historic | 1993
Ken Miles | Sports Cars | 2001
Harry A. Miller | Historic | 1999
Robin Miller | Media | 2021
Tommy Milton | Historic | 1998
George Montgomery | Drag Racing | 2020
Ralph Moody | At Large | 2005
Shirley Muldowney | Drag Racing | 1990
Bill Muncey | Power Boats | 1989
Fran Muncey | Power Boats | 2021
Jimmy Murphy | Historic | 1998
Paula Murphy | Drag Racing | 2017
Ron Musson | Power Boats | 1993
Duke Nalon[13] | Historic | 2015
Ray Nichels | Historic | 2021
Don Nicholson | Drag Racing | 1998
Gary Nixon | Motorcycles | 2003
Bob Nordskog | Power Boats | 1997
Fred Offenhauser | At Large | 2002
Barney Oldfield | At Large | 1989
Danny Ongais | Drag Racing | 2000
Augie Pabst[7] | Sports Cars | 2011
Scott Parker | Motorcycles | 2009
Raymond Parks | Historic | 2022
Wally Parks | Drag Racing | 1993
Benny Parsons | Stock Cars | 2005
Johnnie Parsons | Historic | 2004
U. E. (Pat) Patrick | Open Wheel | 2018
David Pearson | Stock Cars | 1993
Bruce Penhall[7] | Motorcycles | 2011
Roger Penske | At Large | 1995
Joe Petrali | Motorcycles | 1992
Lee Petty | Stock Cars | 1996
Richard Petty | Stock Cars | 1989+
Ed Pink[9] | Drag Racing | 2012
Sam Posey[11] | Sports Cars | 2016
Don Prudhomme | Drag Racing | 1991
Scott Pruett | Sports Cars | 2017+
Bobby Rahal | Open Wheel | 2004
Wayne Rainey | Motorcycles | 2008
Jim Rathmann | Open Wheel | 2007
Brian Redman | Sports Cars | 2002
Phil Remington | Sports Cars | 2019
Carroll Resweber | Motorcycles | 1998
Peter Revson | Sports Cars | 1996
Les Richter | At Large | 2009
Eddie Rickenbacker | Historic | 1994
Fireball Roberts | Stock Cars | 1995
Kenny Roberts | Motorcycles | 1990
Mauri Rose | Historic | 1996
Jack Roush | Stock Cars | 2022
Lloyd Ruby[13] | Open Wheel | 2015
Johnny Rutherford | Open Wheel | 1996
Troy Ruttman | Historic | 2005
Don Schumacher | Drag Racing | 2019
Kevin Schwantz | Motorcycles | 2019
Bill Seebold | Power Boats | 1999
Wilbur Shaw | Historic | 1991
Carroll Shelby | Sports Cars | 1992
Lyle Shelton | Air Racing | 1999
Bill Simpson | At Large | 2003
Betty Skelton | At Large | 2008
Mira Slovak | Power Boats | 2001
Malcolm Smith | Motorcycles | 1996
Tom Sneva | Open Wheel | 2005
Freddie Spencer | Motorcycles | 2001
Jay Springsteen | Motorcycles | 2005
Ken Squier[8] | At Large | 2010
Ivan Stewart | Off Road | 2020
Tony Stewart | Stock Cars | 2019
Judy Stropus | Sports Cars | 2021
Danny Sullivan[9] | Open Wheel | 2012
Bob Sweikert[11] | Historic | 2016
Marshall Teague | Historic | 2014
Herb Thomas | Historic | 2017
Mickey Thompson | At Large | 1990
Jerry Titus[8] | Sports Cars | 2010
Bob Tullius | Sports Cars | 2018
Curtis Turner | Stock Cars | 2006
Roscoe Turner | Air Racing | 1991
Bobby Unser | Open Wheel | 1994
Al Unser | Open Wheel | 1991
Al Unser Jr. | Open Wheel | 2009
Terry Vance &
Byron Hines* | Motorcycles | 2022
Linda Vaughn[14] | At Large | 2019
Don Vesco | Motorcycles | 2004
Rich Vogler[8] | Midgets | 2010
Bill Vukovich | Open Wheel | 1992
Rusty Wallace | Stock Cars | 2014
Darrell Waltrip | Stock Cars | 2003
Jeff Ward | Motorcycles | 2006
Rodger Ward | Open Wheel | 1995
A.J. Watson | At Large | 1996
Joe Weatherly | Historic | 2009
Humpy Wheeler | Stock Cars | 2009
Ed Winfield[7] | Historic | 2011
Steve Wittman | Air Racing | 1998
Wood Brothers | Stock Cars | 2000
Gar Wood | Power Boats | 1990
Cale Yarborough | Stock Cars | 1994
Brock Yates | At Large | 2017
Smokey Yunick | At Large | 2000

\+ Person inducted under special rule. Usually, an inductee must have been retired for at least three years in their field. However, inductees may also have been engaged at the top level of his or her area of motorsports for at least 20 years, and if that is the case, the retirement rule is waived.

* Terry Vance and Byron Hines were inducted together as "Vance & Hines."

## See also

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* International Motorsports Hall of Fame
* Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame

## References

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1. ^ "About - Motorsports Hall of Fame of America". www.mshf.com. Retrieved Mar 24, 2020.
2. ^ "Museum - Motorsports Hall of Fame of America". www.mshf.com. Retrieved Mar 24, 2020.
3. ^ "DETROIT SCIENCE CENTER BECOMES THE NEW HOME OF THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA". Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. November 23, 2009. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
4. ^ "Ricky Carmichael, Darrell Waltrip Latest VIPs to Join February 17 Official Grand Opening of Motorsports Hall of Fame of America And Unveiling of Robert E. Petersen Theatre - Press Releases". www.mshf.com.
5. ^ "Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inducted its newest class: Here's what you missed". 2019-03-13.
6. ^ "Inductee List". Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
7. ^ a b c d e f g Brad, Constant (6 January 2011). "Motorsports Hall of Fame announces class of 2011 inductees". AutoWeek. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
8. ^ a b c d e f g "Kulwicki part of '10 class to be inducted in MHOF". NASCAR. March 2, 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
9. ^ a b c d e f g "Friends, Family, Fellow Legends and Industry Insiders Usher 2012 Inductees into Hall of Fame". Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. August 30, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
10. ^ "BERNSTEIN, HOBBS, PARKER, RICHTER, UNSER JR, WHEELER AND WEATHERLY TO BE INDUCTED INTO MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA". Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. June 25, 2009. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
11. ^ a b c d e f g "Inductees | Hall of Fame".
12. ^ "Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 2018 class includes Jeff Gordon, Howard Hughes". Autoweek. 5 January 2018.
13. ^ a b c d e f g "Mark Martin, Ricky Carmichael among 2015 inductees into Motorsports Hall of Fame of America". Fox News. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
14. ^ "News - Press Releases - Motorsports Hall of Fame of America". www.mshf.com.

## External links

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* Official website