SCRAFAN.COM - Press Release

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (MAY 11, 2002) - Drivers Jim McElreath of Arlington (Texas), Jack Hewitt of Troy (Ohio), and Larry "Smokey" Snellbaker of Dover (Penna.), owner/mechanic/builder Galen Fox of Avon (Ind.), official J. Gordon Betz of Peoria (Ariz.) and media member Dr. Dick Berggren of Ipswich (Mass.) took center stage Saturday afternoon, June 1, as they were officially inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville. Co-emcee's Dave Argabright and Pat Sullivan, special guest Tom Savage and 250 other guests enjoyed the three-hour ceremony which honored the exceptional careers of thirteen inductees. Owner Sam Traylor of Indian Harbour Beach (Florida) and writer Joe Scalzo of Sierra Madre (Calif.) were unable to attend the affair due to personal reasons. Their awards were accepted by daughter Karen Traylor and past Hall of Famer Walt James, respectively.

Also present to accept awards on behalf of their deceased relatives were step-daughter Cheryl Droud for the late driver Lloyd Beckman, and nephew Roby Helm for owner/mechanic Ralph "Speedy" Helm. Additionally, historian/author Bob Mays, past inductee Johnny Rutherford, and Hall of Famer John Gerber's son Jim accepted on behalf of the families of Maynard "Hungry" Clark, Everett Saylor and John Bagley, respectively.

National Sprint Car Hall of Famers who were present were Rollie Beale, Tom Bigelow, Jerry Blundy, Ralph Capitani, Willie Davis, Ray Lee Goodwin, Walt James, Eddie Leavitt, Lynn Paxton, Johnny Rutherford, "Speedy" Bill Smith, Steve Stapp and Bob Trostle. Pete Folse's daughter Paulette Hunter, John Gerber's son Jim, and Marion Robinson's son Jerry were also in attendance at the banquet, which was held on the National Sprint Car Museum's second floor. Current non-profit museum board president Larry Ball, Jr., of Altoona (Iowa) presented the 2002 President's Award to the student/employee David Herrmann. Next year's fourteenth induction weekend is tentatively scheduled for May 30-31-June 1, 2003.

The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation would like to sincerely thank the Knoxville Raceway and the Marion County Fair Association for their efforts this past weekend in presenting the Goodyear Masters Classic 360 c.i. sprint car races, Kin Folks/Magic Muffler 410 c.i. sprint car races, and the Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Championship tri-sanctioned by the Badger (BMARA), Midwest (MARA), and North American (NAMARS) midget car racing associations.