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.
History The 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.
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. Periodically, the Jack Burgess Memorial Award is bestowed on an announcer who has made a lasting impact on the sport.
Inductees 1992 to 2010 +1992André, FrankCagle, WillChamberlain, GeraldCorey, PeteHoag, DutchKotary, CliffOlsen, BuddRafter, BillySchneider, FrankieTasnady, AlTobias, DickWimble, Bill(P) Musclow, Elmer1993Allan, WillieCarter, RagsGerhart, BobbyKneisel, DaveLazzaro, LouRobinson, GuyShoemaker, Kenny(P) Garrison, Doug1994Malzahn, BobbyReakes, SammyTreichler, Merv(P) Danish, Steve1995Gahan, ErnieMcArdell, JohnMcLaughlin, Jackie(P) Holliday, Buck1996Charland, ReneLittle, IvanPloski, Stan(P) Hough, Pappy1997Meahl, KennyReutimann, Buzzie(P) Westervelt, Howie1998Akulis, ChuckCorellis, Tommy(P) Hurtubise, Jim1999Beavers, SammyOrtiz, Ed(P) Herbert, Jeep2000Blaney, LouBottcher, Bobby(P) Murphy, Jack2001Coville, C.D.LaFrance, Marcel(P) Harwi, Otto2002Gatien, Bob(P) Zeigler, Bob2003Hulbert, MertMoore, DaveyPeek, Harry2004Carlyle, DougLape, DaveShampine, Jim2005Jelley, ButchNagel, Carl(P) Cain, Bobby2006Brightbill, KennyMcCreadie, Bob(P) Reiners, Glenn2007Heaslip, DaveOsmun, Billy(P) May, Dick2008Reutimann, WayneVanHorn, Carl(P) Nephew, Dick2009Brenn, Ken Jr.Plazek, Joe(P) Klapak, Mike2010Hough, LinQuarterson, RalphReddick, Gary
2011 to present +2011Cook, Jerry Hoffman, Doug(P) Taylor, Irv2012Bicknell, PeteJohnson, Jack(P) Doiron, Ovide2013Cozze, FrankMcLaughlin, Mike(P) Watt, Blackie2014Colsten, MikeRudolph, Charlie(P) Holt, Lloyd2015Balough, GaryWetmore, Donnie(P) Delaney, Jim2016Heotzler, JeffPauch, Billy(P) Diffendorf, Don2017Johnson, AlanPaine, Steve(P) Adam, Freddy2018Swartzlander, BrianTremont, Kenny Jr.(P) Rossell, Bob2019Johnson, DannyO’Brien, Pat Jr.(P) Brown, Ray20202021Bunting, HaroldWard, PatHearn, Brett(P) Donahue, Joe2022Decker, BillyVon Dohren, Craig(P) June, Don2023Fuller, TimO'Brien, Danny(P) Cameron, Bob2024Horton, Jimmy Tomkins, Gary2025 Howard, Duane Planck, Dale Van Pelt, Billy2026Gibbs, MitchMcCreadie, TimWilkins, Bobby P= Pioneer Selection
Awards 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.
1993 to 2001 +ContributorOwnerMechanic1993 Stevens, Ray1994Donnelly, GlennFried, IrvGerber, Al1995Hunter, BobLane, Ace Sr.Bruss, GilTurrner, Don & Ray1996Heath, Irv & AnnaNorthern Stock Car ClubDeasey, Paul1997Patrick, NormWright, DaveHollebrand, Pete1998Berggren, DickHigbie, Gary & Jerry1999Deuel, LesBullock, JoeJeffery, Scott2000Veach, JackLegue, SheldonTremont, Ken Sr.2001Hill, JohnO'Brien, DickFerraiuolo, TonyTones, Bill
2002 to 2014 +ContributorOwnerMechanicOWR2002Feuz, EdCope, HaroldPaine, DonBeberwyk, HerthaFarney, GertLynch, Jean2003Friesen FamilySincerbeaux, JimKisacky, RandySinger, PatriciaTaney, Mary2004Dudzinski, StanleyElaine James MotorsportsGrecco, TommyReilley, TerrySalvas, RachelVeach,Bonnie2005Nuber, LarryFaust, Bob & MicheleDeSarbo, JoJoHacker, JaneThurston, Rose2006Fink, Joan & HarveyPitkavish, JoeDornberger, SonnyAnderson, BarbBicknell, NancyJennejohn, Kim2007Freshman, AaronMorin, RonRudalavage, JeffBurdick, MikeLutz, AnnetteMartin, Helen2008Burgess, JackMarotta, JoeMyers, CarlLangenstein, CharlieReakes, ZeldaToal, Marilyn2009Saxton, ErnieWight, John & LauraCozze CrewScarpati, Gloria KatonaSutherland, SerenityZemken, Jessica2010Mulligan, BrianBrownell, JeffPhillips, AndrewRobinson, TanaSnyderman, JudySwanson, Buffy2011Ladabouche, BillCozze, DickSte. Marie, RonHaynes, Carol DemlingPayne, Audrey2012Speno, JackPalmer, Alton & CaroleColton, BillyFlanagan, Carol MorinKirkland, CherylTobias, Dianne2013Petrocci FamilySmith, George Sr.Johnson, Milt &Fleischman, BruceDoust, JayneKennedy, WendyWetmore, Marcia2014Commander, HowieBarcomb, CliffHearn, BobbyBicknell-Jones, EricaYasinsac-Gillespie, Robin
2015 to present +ContributorOwnerMechanicOWRMediaBurgess2015Heinke, AlBrenn, KenHillman, MikeClark, BarbBoyd, Lew2016Beberwyk, MartyMills, EugeneDini, BobRogers, TheresaCaruso, George Jr.2017Salvas, GastonRoss, RandyTobias, Rich Jr.Emig, VickiSammons, Lenny H.2018Spaid, GaryBramall, RayTroyer, MaynardCosco, LindaDavies, Don & Jo Ann2019Fried, JerryJordan, Lester (Lucky)Conkey, HowardChadwick, JoAnneThomas, MelRuffner, Warren20202021Miller, Bob and DonnaConley, TicoTaylor, BillyPreston-Elms, AprilRumsey, Tery2022Richards, C.J.Madsen, GuyMack, EricLazzaro, Melissa "Mimi"Lane, John "Ace" Jr.2023Kuhl, PaulHyneman, GlennWilliamson, RandyFallis, LaurieDonnelly, Patrick2024DeVore, LyleSpraker, JakeHoffman, DaveyPauch Mahaney, Mandee Logan, DougSova, Roy2025Cathell, Charlie and JoyceSalerno, VinnyConroy, TommyCella, JaneVoorhees, Fred2026Perrotte, MikeLarson, ChrisSine, JohnMorhman, TerriHedger, Ron
Museum 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.
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. 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.
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.
References
External links
Northeast Dirt Modified Museum & Hall of Fame - 33rd Annual Induction Ceremonies