29°11′8″N 81°4′10″W / 29.18556°N 81.06944°W
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
editThe 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
editInduction process
editInduction 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
editThe 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
edit
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
editThe 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
edit
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
edit- Skip Barber
- Miguel Duhamel
- Carl Haas
- Ed Iskenderian
- Dale Jarrett
- Tony Schumacher
- Bill Stroppe
Class of 2024
edit- Austin Coil
- Scott Dixon
- Jim Downing
- Dr. Bob Hubbard
- Bud Ekins
- Jimmie Johnson
- Paul Newman
- John Surtees
Class of 2023
editInductees
edit| 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "About - Motorsports Hall of Fame of America". www.mshf.com. Retrieved Mar 24, 2020.
- ^ "Museum - Motorsports Hall of Fame of America". www.mshf.com. Retrieved Mar 24, 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inducted its newest class: Here's what you missed". 2019-03-13.
- ^ "Inductee List". Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Inductees | Hall of Fame".
- ^ "Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 2018 class includes Jeff Gordon, Howard Hughes". Autoweek. 5 January 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "News - Press Releases - Motorsports Hall of Fame of America". www.mshf.com.