DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A luminous lineup of legendary motorsports stars will be on hand to laud the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Class of 2023 at the MSHFA’s milestone 35th Annual Induction Ceremony on March 7.
The black-tie gala is the crowning event of a two-day MSHFA induction celebration that will formally usher the class of 2023 into the only Hall of Fame of all motorsports.
This year’s honorees include:
• The Father of the Corvette and Corvette racing Zora Arkus-Duntov (Sports Cars)
• National champion driver and trailblazing USAC official Henry Banks (Historic)
• America’s most successful enduro rider Dick Burleson (Motorcycles)
• Air racing superstar Art Chester (Aviation)
• One of NASCAR’s most innovative crew chiefs, Ray Evernham (Stock Cars)
• Early NASCAR fan favorite Fonty Flock (Historic)
• One of the NHRA’s 50 Greatest All-Time Drivers, Darrell Gwynn (Drag Racing)
• Prolific land speed record-setter Ab Jenkins (Speed Records)
• Two men who revolutionized racetrack emergency services, saving countless lives and careers, Drs. Stephen Olvey and Terry Trammell (Open Wheel)
Those magnificent motorsports figures will be celebrated and ushered into the MSHFA by a growing list of other motorsports stars and notables, including Master of Ceremonies David Hobbs (MSHFA Class of 2009). Some are already Hall of Famers, others will be there to present their peers for induction, and many will attend to just spend time with their friends and fellow competitors on one of the biggest nights of the year in American motorsports.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (MSHFA Class of 2019) is traveling to Daytona to present motorsports safety pioneers Olvey and Trammell for induction. Like so many of his contemporaries, Franchitti fell into the care of Olvey and Trammell after more than one injury accident in his accomplished career. He frequently acknowledges he would not have the quality of life he has today in retirement if it wasn’t for Drs. Olvey and Trammell.
Gwynn will be presented by Don Garlits, the very first MSHFA inductee in the Drag Racing category as part of the inaugural 1989 class that included Cannon Ball Baker (Motorcycles), James Doolittle (Aviation), A.J. Foyt (Open Wheel), Phil Hill (Sports Cars), Bill Muncey (Power Boats), Barney Oldfield (At Large) and Richard Petty (Stock Cars).
Evernham will be presented for induction by his friend and longtime colleague and popular motorsports television pit reporter Matt Yocum. A Daytona Beach native, Yocum and Evernham first worked together over 35 years ago at the International Race of Champions (IROC) under the leadership of Jay Signore and have been close friends ever since.
Hobbs, Garlits and Franchitti will be joined by dozens of other returning MSHFA inductees at the Class of 2023 celebration.
Keyword: Motorsports HOF Of America Set To Induct 10 Pioneers