 Museum Exhibits | |
  Location within New York | |
| Established | April 12, 1992 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Speedway Dr Weedsport, New York, USA |
| Coordinates | 43°3′N76°34′W / 43.050°N 76.567°W |
| 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.
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.
| 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
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.
| [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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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]
Richard Ernest Evans, was an American racing driver who won nine NASCAR National Modified Championships, including eight in a row from 1978 to 1985. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame lists this achievement as "one of the supreme accomplishments in motorsports". Evans won virtually every major race for asphalt modifieds, most of them more than once, including winning the Race of Champions three times. Evans was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame on June 14, 2011. As one of the Class of 2012, Evans was one of the Hall's first 15 inductees, and was the first Hall of Famer from outside the now NASCAR Cup Series.
The Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds is a North American big block modified touring series currently promoted by World Racing Group. The series primarily races on dirt ovals in the Northeastern United States and Canada along with select dates in Florida and North Carolina.
Gary Balough is a retired American stock car racing driver who competed from 1979 to 2001. Balough has won more than 1000 races throughout his short-track career and has accumulated more than 20 wins in the All-Pro division.
Robert David "Barefoot Bob" McCreadie was an American Dirt Modified racing driver. He is an inductee to the Lowe's Motor Speedway Walk of Fame, the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame, and the Eastern Motorsport Press Association Hall of Fame.
James W. Delaney was an American stock car racing driver and crew chief. He was a pioneer of the sport, competing in the inaugural year of the Strictly Stock division, which is now the NASCAR Cup series.
Robert "Bob" Cameron was an American stock car racing driver. He was a pioneer of the sport, competing in the inaugural year of the Strictly Stock division, which is now the NASCAR Cup series.
William "Billy" Decker is an American dirt modified and late model racing driver. He has captured 18 track titles at six different tracks, and won at 35 different tracks in nine US states and two Canadian provinces.
Jeffrey "Jeff" Heotzler is an American dirt modified racing driver, currently credited with over 150 career wins at 13 tracks from Florida to Quebec.
Michael "Mike" Colsten was an American dirt modified racing driver, credited with over 150 career feature event wins, driving a Ford powered stock car in a sport dominated by Chevrolets.
Donnie Wetmore is a retired American Dirt Modified racing driver, credited with over 200 career wins. He is the all-time feature win leader at Fulton Speedway with 68.
Gary Tomkins is an American dirt modified racing driver. Tomkins has 146 feature event wins in the U.S., Canada and Australia.
Glenn Reiners was a pioneering American dirt modified racing driver. In 1958 he won 13 of the 20 feature races held at Dundee Speedway NY.
Robert "Bobby" Cain was a pioneering American stock car and sprint car racing driver. Raised in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country he and his cars were known to racing fans as the "Quaker Shaker".
David "Dave" Lape was an American dirt modified racing driver, fabricator, and promoter. His cars always carried the number 22 adorned with 13-point flames as a tribute to his childhood mentor, car owner Bob Whitbeck and his driver Pete Corey.
D. James "Jim" Shampine was one of the most successful drivers in Supermodified competition and an equally skilled racer in asphalt and dirt-track Modified stock cars. He won 92 feature races at Oswego Speedway NY, and with his innovative car designs captured 38% of the Supermodified events held from 1970 to 1979.
Louis "Lou" Lazarro was an American Modified racing driver. Equally adept on both dirt and asphalt surfaces, he raced from Daytona to Canada, and is credited with over 250 feature wins in a career that spanned six decades.
John "Irish Jack" Murphy was an American Modified and Supermodified racing driver. Equally skilled on asphalt and dirt-track stock cars, he won the inaugural Oswego International Classic in September 1957.
Charles "Chuck" Akulis is a retired American Dirt Modified racing driver. Akulis had a 9-year winning streak at the Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood, NY (1977–1985), and captured 14 track championships at the venue during his career.
William "Wee Willie" Allan was an American Dirt Modified racing driver. Always detectable on the track by flying a villainous skull and bones flag, and readily identifiable off the track because of his diminutive size, he was a favorite of the younger race fans.
Robert "Bob" Gatien was a Canadian Dirt Modified racing driver. He later joined a group of investors to purchase Rebel Speedway, renamed it to Autodrome Granby QC, and became a respected promotor and an authority in track surface preparation.