Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame

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.

Northeast Dirt Modified
Hall of Fame

Museum Exhibits
Location within New York Show map of New York Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame (the United States) Show map of the United States
Established	April 12, 1992 (1992-04-12)
Location	1 Speedway Dr Weedsport, New York, USA
Coordinates	43°3′N 76°34′W
Type	Modified Stock Car Racing (Dirt Surface)
Website	Official website

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.^[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

1992 to 2010

1992[3]	André, Frank Cagle, Will Chamberlain, Gerald Corey, Pete	Hoag, Dutch Kotary, Cliff Olsen, Budd Rafter, Billy	Schneider, Frankie Tasnady, Al Tobias, Dick Wimble, Bill	(P) Musclow, Elmer
1993	Allan, Willie Carter, Rags Gerhart, Bobby	Kneisel, Dave Lazzaro, Lou	Robinson, Guy Shoemaker, Kenny	(P) Garrison, Doug
1994	Malzahn, Bobby	Reakes, Sammy	Treichler, Merv	(P) Danish, Steve
1995	Gahan, Ernie	McArdell, John	McLaughlin, Jackie	(P) Holliday, Buck
1996	Charland, Rene	Little, Ivan	Ploski, Stan	(P) Hough, Pappy
1997	Meahl, Kenny	Reutimann, Buzzie		(P) Westervelt, Howie
1998	Akulis, Chuck	Corellis, Tommy		(P) Hurtubise, Jim
1999	Beavers, Sammy	Ortiz, Ed		(P) Herbert, Jeep
2000	Blaney, Lou	Bottcher, Bobby		(P) Murphy, Jack
2001	Coville, C.D.	LaFrance, Marcel		(P) Harwi, Otto
2002	Gatien, Bob			(P) Zeigler, Bob
2003	Hulbert, Mert	Moore, Davey	Peek, Harry
2004	Carlyle, Doug	Lape, Dave	Shampine, Jim
2005	Jelley, Butch	Nagel, Carl		(P) Cain, Bobby
2006	Brightbill, Kenny	McCreadie, Bob		(P) Reiners, Glenn
2007	Heaslip, Dave	Osmun, Billy		(P) May, Dick
2008	Reutimann, Wayne	VanHorn, Carl		(P) Nephew, Dick
2009	Brenn, Ken Jr.	Plazek, Joe		(P) Klapak, Mike
2010	Hough, Lin	Quarterson, Ralph	Reddick, Gary

2011 to present

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

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

[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

	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

	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

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]

References

1. "Spaids work as official earns accolade". The Citizen. 13 July 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
2. "Three Selected For NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame". Speed Sport. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
3. "Compiled from Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame List of Drivers".
4. "Danny Johnson, Pat O'Brien & Ray Brown the 2019 class". Race Pro Weekly. 22 March 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
5. "Hearn Headlines Northeast Dirt Modified HoF Class". Speed Sport. 5 March 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
6. "Ward to be part of rescheduled NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame induction ceremony". The Citizen. 12 March 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
7. "Three selected for Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame induction". The Citizen. 31 March 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
8. "Fuller, O'Brien, Cameron Selected To NE Dirt Modified HOF". Speed Sport. 7 March 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
9. "Horton &Tompkins Selected To NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame". Speed Sport. 31 January 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
10. "Compiled from Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame List of Drivers".
11. "Johnson, O'Brien and Brown to NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame for 2019". DirtTrackDigest.com. 22 March 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
12. "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.
13. "Dirt Hall of Fame postpones 2020 induction ceremony". The Citizen. 16 June 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
14. "Decker, Von Dohren and June Selected to NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame for 2022". DirtTrackDigest.com. 31 March 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
15. "I Love New York". NY Department of Economic Development. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
16. "Meeting Summary". Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
17. "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.
18. "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.
19. Skibinski, Tom (May 25, 2010). "Batmobile On Display During May 30 Hall Of Fame Day In Weedsport". DIRTcar. Retrieved June 9, 2024.

External links

• Official website