Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame in Weedsport, New York

Northeast Dirt Modified
Hall of Fame

Museum Exhibits

Location within New York

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Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame (the United States)

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Established| April 12, 1992 (1992-04-12)
Location| 1 Speedway Dr
Weedsport, New York, USA
Coordinates| 43°3′N 76°34′W﻿ / ﻿43.050°N 76.567°W﻿ / 43.050; -76.567
Type| Modified Stock Car Racing (Dirt Surface)
Website| Official website

The Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame was established in 1992 to recognize individual achievements in the sport of stock car racing. It is located at 1 Speedway Dr., Weedsport, New York.

## History

[edit]

The inaugural induction ceremonies were held on April 12, 1992, with 12 drivers and one pioneer driver being selected. The initial selection committee was composed of Gary Chadwick, Andy Fusco, Gary Rowe, Tom Skibinski, and Gary Spaid, all members of the motorsports media. The ceremonies were followed by a Hall of Fame race at Weedsport Speedway.[1]
In 1993, the first non-driver racing award was added. Named after Area Auto Racing News founder Leonard J. Sammons Jr., the award was established to recognize outstanding contributions to the sport. In subsequent years awards honoring both car owners and mechanics/engineering were presented. In 2002 Gater Racing News announced the addition of an annual Outstanding Woman in Racing Award, and upon Andy Fusco’s untimely death in 2015, the Award for Media Excellence was established in his memory.[2] Periodically, the Jack Burgess Memorial Award is bestowed on an announcer who has made a lasting impact on the sport.

## Inductees

[edit]

### 1992 to 2010

[edit]

1992[3] | André, Frank
Cagle, Will
Chamberlain, Gerald
Corey, Pete | Hoag, Dutch
Kotary, Cliff
Olsen, Budd
Rafter, Billy | Schneider, Frankie
Tasnady, Al
Tobias, Dick
Wimble, Bill | (P) Musclow, Elmer

|
|
|
|

1993  | Allan, Willie
Carter, Rags
Gerhart, Bobby | Kneisel, Dave
Lazzaro, Lou | Robinson, Guy
Shoemaker, Kenny | (P) Garrison, Doug
1994  | Malzahn, Bobby | Reakes, Sammy | Treichler, Merv | (P) Danish, Steve
1995  | Gahan, Ernie | McArdell, John | McLaughlin, Jackie | (P) Holliday, Buck
1996  | Charland, Rene | Little, Ivan | Ploski, Stan | (P) Hough, Pappy
1997  | Meahl, Kenny | Reutimann, Buzzie |  | (P) Westervelt, Howie
1998  | Akulis, Chuck | Corellis, Tommy | (P) Hurtubise, Jim
1999  | Beavers, Sammy | Ortiz, Ed | (P) Herbert, Jeep
2000  | Blaney, Lou | Bottcher, Bobby | (P) Murphy, Jack
2001  | Coville, C.D. | LaFrance, Marcel | (P) Harwi, Otto
2002  | Gatien, Bob |  | (P) Zeigler, Bob
2003  | Hulbert, Mert | Moore, Davey | Peek, Harry |
2004  | Carlyle, Doug | Lape, Dave | Shampine, Jim
2005  | Jelley, Butch | Nagel, Carl |  | (P) Cain, Bobby
2006  | Brightbill, Kenny | McCreadie, Bob | (P) Reiners, Glenn
2007  | Heaslip, Dave | Osmun, Billy | (P) May, Dick
2008  | Reutimann, Wayne | VanHorn, Carl | (P) Nephew, Dick
2009  | Brenn, Ken Jr. | Plazek, Joe | (P) Klapak, Mike
2010  | Hough, Lin | Quarterson, Ralph | Reddick, Gary |

### 2011 to present

[edit]

2011  | Cook, Jerry | Hoffman, Doug | (P) Taylor, Irv

|
|
|

2012  | Bicknell, Pete | Johnson, Jack | (P) Doiron, Ovide
2013  | Cozze, Frank | McLaughlin, Mike | (P) Watt, Blackie
2014  | Colsten, Mike | Rudolph, Charlie | (P) Holt, Lloyd
2015  | Balough, Gary | Wetmore, Donnie | (P) Delaney, Jim
2016  | Heotzler, Jeff | Pauch, Billy | (P) Diffendorf, Don
2017  | Johnson, Alan | Paine, Steve | (P) Adam, Freddy
2018  | Swartzlander, Brian | Tremont, Kenny Jr. | (P) Rossell, Bob
2019[4] | Johnson, Danny | O’Brien, Pat Jr. | (P) Brown, Ray
2020[5]
2021[6] | Bunting, Harold
Ward, Pat | Hearn, Brett | (P) Donahue, Joe
2022[7] | Decker, Billy | Von Dohren, Craig | (P) June, Don
2023[8] | Fuller, Tim | O'Brien, Danny | (P) Cameron, Bob
2024[9] |  Horton, Jimmy | Tomkins, Gary |

P= Pioneer Selection

## Awards

[edit]

Burgess=Jack Burgess Memorial Award, Media=Andrew S.Fusco Award for Media Excellence, Mechanic=Mechanic/Engineering, Owner=Gene DeWitt Car Owner, Contributor=Leonard J.Sammons Jr.Award for Outstanding Contribution to Auto Racing, OWR=Outstanding Women in Racing.

### 1993 to 2001

[edit]

[10] | Contributor | Owner | Mechanic

|
|
|

1993  | Stevens, Ray  |  |
1994  | Donnelly, Glenn
Fried, Irv
Gerber, Al
1995  | Hunter, Bob
Lane, Ace Sr.  | Bruss, Gil
Turrner, Don & Ray
1996  | Heath, Irv & Anna
Northern Stock Car Club | Deasey, Paul
1997  | Patrick, Norm
Wright, Dave  | Hollebrand, Pete
1998  | Berggren, Dick | Higbie, Gary & Jerry
1999  | Deuel, Les  | Bullock, Joe  | Jeffery, Scott
2000  | Veach, Jack  | Legue, Sheldon  | Tremont, Ken Sr.
2001  | Hill, John
O'Brien, Dick  | Ferraiuolo, Tony  | Tones, Bill

### 2002 to 2014

[edit]

| Contributor | Owner | Mechanic | OWR

|
|
|
|

2002  | Feuz, Ed  | Cope, Harold  | Paine, Don  | Beberwyk, Hertha
Farney, Gert
Lynch, Jean
2003  | Friesen Family | Sincerbeaux, Jim  | Kisacky, Randy  | Singer, Patricia
Taney, Mary
2004  | Dudzinski, Stanley | Elaine James Motorsports  | Grecco, Tommy  | Reilley, Terry
Salvas, Rachel
Veach,Bonnie
2005  | Nuber, Larry | Faust, Bob & Michele  | DeSarbo, JoJo  | Hacker, Jane
Thurston, Rose
2006  | Fink, Joan & Harvey | Pitkavish, Joe  | Dornberger, Sonny  | Anderson, Barb
Bicknell, Nancy
Jennejohn, Kim
2007  | Freshman, Aaron
Morin, Ron | Rudalavage, Jeff  | Burdick, Mike  | Lutz, Annette
Martin, Helen
2008  | Burgess, Jack
Marotta, Joe  | Myers, Carl  | Langenstein, Charlie  | Reakes, Zelda
Toal, Marilyn
2009  | Saxton, Ernie  | Wight, John & Laura | Cozze Crew  | Scarpati, Gloria Katona
Sutherland, Serenity
Zemken, Jessica
2010  | Mulligan, Brian  | Brownell, Jeff  | Phillips, Andrew  | Robinson, Tana
Snyderman, Judy
Swanson, Buffy
2011  | Ladabouche, Bill  | Cozze, Dick  | Ste. Marie, Ron  | Haynes, Carol Demling
Payne, Audrey
2012  | Speno, Jack  | Palmer, Alton & Carole  | Colton, Billy  | Flanagan, Carol Morin
Kirkland, Cheryl
Tobias, Dianne
2013  | Petrocci Family | Smith, George Sr.  | Johnson, Milt &
Fleischman, Bruce  | Doust, Jayne
Kennedy, Wendy
Wetmore, Marcia
2014  | Commander, Howie | Barcomb, Cliff  | Hearn, Bobby  | Bicknell-Jones, Erica
Yasinsac-Gillespie, Robin

### 2015 to present

[edit]

| Contributor | Owner | Mechanic | OWR | Media | Burgess

|
|
|
|
|
|

2015  | Heinke, Al | Brenn, Ken | Hillman, Mike | Clark, Barb  | Boyd, Lew  |
2016  | Beberwyk, Marty  | Mills, Eugene  | Dini, Bob  | Rogers, Theresa  | Caruso, George Jr.
2017  | Salvas, Gaston  | Ross, Randy  | Tobias, Rich Jr. | Emig, Vicki  | Sammons, Lenny H.
2018  | Spaid, Gary  | Bramall, Ray  | Troyer, Maynard | Cosco, Linda  | Davies, Don & Jo Ann
2019[11] | Fried, Jerry | Jordan, Lester (Lucky)  | Conkey, Howard  | Chadwick, JoAnne  | Thomas, Mel  | Ruffner, Warren
2020[12]
2021[13] | Miller, Bob and Donna | Conley, Tico  | Taylor, Billy  | Preston-Elms, April  | Rumsey, Tery  |
2022[14] |  Richards, C.J. | Madsen, Guy  | Mack, Eric  | Lazzaro, Melissa "Mimi"  | Lane, John "Ace" Jr.
2023[8] | Kuhl, Paul | Hyneman, Glenn  | Williamson, Randy  | Fallis, Laurie  | Donnelly, Patrick
2024[9] |  DeVore, Lyle | Spraker, Jake  | Hoffman, Davey  | Pauch Mahaney, Mandee  | Logan, Doug  | Sova, Roy

## Museum

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The Dirt Modified Stock Car Museum is chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York Department of Education as a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit institution. In addition to the Hall of Fame, the museum exhibits historic race cars, classic autos, unique racing memorabilia and rarely seen photographs.[15][16]

The permanent display includes 'The X car', a 1950s era flathead stock car driven by Frank André to many victories in Northern New York and Southern Canada.[17] Although occasionally on loan, the museum is also the permanent home of the controversial black #112 Lincoln Town Car Mark X/1 "Batmobile" driven by Gary Balough to the 1980 Schaefer 200.[18]

A special Memorial honoring those individuals who lost their lives in racing sits quietly among exhibits which salute this industry of dirt track racing both past and present. And at the end of the Museum trail awaits the "Jack Burgess Memorial Video Room" while a classic gift shop offers a wide assortment of apparel, souvenirs and limited edition collector items.[19]

## References

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1. ^ "Spaids work as official earns accolade". The Citizen. 13 July 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
2. ^ "Three Selected For NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame". Speed Sport. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
3. ^ "Compiled from Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame List of Drivers".
4. ^ "Danny Johnson, Pat O'Brien & Ray Brown the 2019 class". Race Pro Weekly. 22 March 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
5. ^ "Hearn Headlines Northeast Dirt Modified HoF Class". Speed Sport. 5 March 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
6. ^ "Ward to be part of rescheduled NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame induction ceremony". The Citizen. 12 March 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
7. ^ "Three selected for Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame induction". The Citizen. 31 March 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
8. ^ a b "Fuller, O'Brien, Cameron Selected To NE Dirt Modified HOF". Speed Sport. 7 March 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
9. ^ a b "Horton &Tompkins Selected To NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame". Speed Sport. 31 January 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
10. ^ "Compiled from Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame List of Drivers".
11. ^ "Johnson, O'Brien and Brown to NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame for 2019". DirtTrackDigest.com. 22 March 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
12. ^ "Brett Hearn, Harold Bunting & Joe Donahue Selected to NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame for 2020". Race Pro Weekly. 5 March 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
13. ^ "Dirt Hall of Fame postpones 2020 induction ceremony". The Citizen. 16 June 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
14. ^ "Decker, Von Dohren and June Selected to NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame for 2022". DirtTrackDigest.com. 31 March 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
15. ^ "I Love New York". NY Department of Economic Development. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
16. ^ "Meeting Summary". Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
17. ^ "Dirt Legends Wimble, Andre among first 12 enshrined in new hall of fame". Watertown Daily Times. April 12, 1992. Retrieved November 9, 2023 - via NNY 360Archives.
18. ^ "The Weld/Balough 'Batmobile' Modified Will Be A Featured Attraction At Motorsports 2016". Motorsport Race Car & Trade Show. December 18, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
19. ^ Skibinski, Tom (May 25, 2010). "Batmobile On Display During May 30 Hall Of Fame Day In Weedsport". DIRTcar. Retrieved June 9, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website