From Bob Baker
Knoxville, IA — (May 30, 2015) — Champion drivers Don Kreitz, Jr., of Pennsylvania and Danny Smith of Ohio, builder Roger Beck of Indiana, owner Gil Sonner of Iowa, and media members Mike Arthur of California and Bruce Ellis of Pennsylvania each ‘took a bow’ Saturday afternoon, May 30, as they were officially inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF) in Knoxville. Emcees Dave Argabright and Dr. Pat Sullivan, and a crowd of 230 guests, enjoyed the three-hour ceremony, which honored the exceptional careers of eight inductees.
The families of deceased inductees “Tiger” Gene Brown (daughters Kelly Tornquist and Sherry McComb) and Charlie Wiggins (niece Rochelle Wiggins-Morton) were on-hand to accept their relatives’ honors.
National Sprint Car Hall of Famers who were present were Dave Argabright, Ralph Capitani, Shane Carson, Lanny Edwards, Rickey Hood, Jean Lynch, John Mahoney, Gene Marderness, Lynn Paxton, Steve Stapp and Bob Trostle. Also in attendance in the Dyer-Hudson Hall on the Marion County Fairgrounds were family members of the following NSCHoF inductees: Bud Carson (son Shane Carson), John Gerber (son Jim Gerber), Clarence “Hooker” Hood (son Rickey Hood) and Elbert “Babe” Stapp (son Steve Stapp). The program was dedicated to the memory of deceased National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductees Earl Baltes, Jerry Blundy, Bruce Bromme, Jr., Don Shepherd and “Speedy” Bill Smith, and recently deceased past museum board president Louis Bredesky.
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation board president Jeff Savage presented the 2015 President’s Award to museum volunteer Dennis Johnson of Knoxville. This year’s twenty-sixth NSCHoF induction banquet again featured dual large-screen televisions showing photos organized by videographer Kris Krohn.
Next year’s twenty-seventh NSCHoF induction weekend is tentatively scheduled for June 4-5, 2016.