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.
 Museum Exhibits | |
  Location within New York  Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame (the United States) | |
| Established | April 12, 1992 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Speedway Dr Weedsport, New York, USA |
| Coordinates | 43°3′N 76°34′W / 43.050°N 76.567°W |
| Type | Modified Stock Car Racing (Dirt Surface) |
| Website | Official website |
History
editThe inaugural induction ceremony was 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 ceremony was followed by a Hall of Fame race at Weedsport Speedway.[1]
In 1993, the first non-driver racing award was added. The award was named after Area Auto Racing News founder Leonard J. Sammons Jr., and was established to recognize outstanding contributions to the sport. In subsequent years, awards honoring both car owners and mechanics/engineering were also 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
edit1992 to 2010
edit2011 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
editBurgess=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
editThe 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
edit- ^ "Spaids work as official earns accolade". The Citizen. 13 July 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
- ^ "Three Selected For NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame". Speed Sport. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
- ^ "Compiled from Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame List of Drivers".
- ^ "Danny Johnson, Pat O'Brien & Ray Brown the 2019 class". Race Pro Weekly. 22 March 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
- ^ "Hearn Headlines Northeast Dirt Modified HoF Class". Speed Sport. 5 March 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ "Ward to be part of rescheduled NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame induction ceremony". The Citizen. 12 March 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "Three selected for Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame induction". The Citizen. 31 March 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "Fuller, O'Brien, Cameron Selected To NE Dirt Modified HOF". Speed Sport. 7 March 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Horton &Tompkins Selected To NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame". Speed Sport. 31 January 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ "Compiled from Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame List of Drivers".
- ^ "Johnson, O'Brien and Brown to NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame for 2019". DirtTrackDigest.com. 22 March 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Dirt Hall of Fame postpones 2020 induction ceremony". The Citizen. 16 June 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "Decker, Von Dohren and June Selected to NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame for 2022". DirtTrackDigest.com. 31 March 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ "I Love New York". NY Department of Economic Development. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Meeting Summary". Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Skibinski, Tom (May 25, 2010). "Batmobile On Display During May 30 Hall Of Fame Day In Weedsport". DIRTcar. Retrieved June 9, 2024.