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International Motorsports Hall of Fame facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Talladega AL
International Motorsports Hall of Fame

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to the sports of auto racing, motorcycle racing and motorized boat racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer. It opened in 1990 and is located in Lincoln, Alabama, United States, adjacent to Talladega Superspeedway. The hall of fame was an initiative of NASCAR CEO Bill France Jr.

Although people of many nationalities have been inducted (including racing legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Ayrton Senna) the majority of inductees chosen are American drivers who competed in domestic series (particularly NASCAR). Only three non-Americans have been inducted since 2003.

Qualifications

To be nominated, the person must be retired from their specialty in motorsports for at least five years unless approved on special means (age or worthy of special early induction). They are voted on by a 150-member panel from the American auto racing media.

Due to the opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, there was no class of 2010.

List of inductees

Name Inducted Lived Active years Main form of motorsport Further career
United States J. C. Agajanian 2009 1913–1984 1931–1971 Indianapolis 500
United States Bobby Allison 1993 b. 1937 1959–1988 NASCAR
United States Davey Allison 1998 1961–1993 1979–1993 NASCAR
United States Donnie Allison 2009 b. 1939 1966–1988 NASCAR
United States Joe Amato 2005 b. 1944 ?–2000 NHRA Drag racing
United States Mario Andretti 2000 b. 1940 1953–1994 Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR, sports car racing
United States Art Arfons 2008 1926–2007 1952–1971 land speed record, tractor pulling
Italy Alberto Ascari 1992 1918–1955 1930s–1955 Formula One
United States Buck Baker 1990 1919–2002 1939–1976 NASCAR
United States Buddy Baker 1997 1941–2015 1959–1992 NASCAR Color commentator
United States Kenny Bernstein 2012 b. 1944 Drag racing Team owner
United States Tony Bettenhausen 1991 1916–1961 1940s–1961 Indianapolis 500
United States George Bignotti 1993 1918–2013 1950s–1970s Indianapolis 500 Mechanic
United States Neil Bonnett 2001 1946–1994 1974–1990 NASCAR
Australia Jack Brabham 1990 1926–2014 1946–1970 Formula One Founder of Brabham Motor Racing Developments
United States Craig Breedlove 2000 b. 1937 1963–1965 land speed records
United States Jimmy Bryan 2001 1926–1960 1952–1960 Indianapolis 500
Italy Ettore Bugatti 2002 1881–1947 N/A None Founder of Bugatti
United States Red Byron 2008 1915–1960 1932–1951 NASCAR SCCA manager
United Kingdom Malcolm Campbell 1990 1885–1948 1920s–1930s Grand Prix motor racing Land speed record breaker
Germany Rudolf Caracciola 1998 1901–1959 1922–1952 Grand Prix motor racing
United Kingdom Colin Chapman 1994 1928–1982 N/A Formula One Founder of Lotus
United States Louis Chevrolet 1991 1878–1941 1915–1920 Indianapolis 500 Founder of Chevrolet and Frontenac
United States Richard Childress 2012 b. 1945 NASCAR Team owner
United Kingdom Jim Clark 1990 1936–1968 1958–1968 Formula One, Indianapolis 500
United States Jerry Cook 2009 b. 1943 1969–1982 NASCAR Modified series
United States Briggs Cunningham 2003 1907–2003 1930–1966 Various Founder of Cunningham Racing
United States Ralph DePalma 1991 1884–1956 1906–1925 Indianapolis 500 Land speed record breaker
United States Junie Donlavey 2007 1924–2014 N/A NASCAR
United States Mark Donohue 1990 1937–1975 1959–1975 sports car racing, Indianapolis 500, NASCAR
United States Dale Earnhardt 2006 1951–2001 1975–2001 NASCAR
United States Ralph Earnhardt 1997 1928–1973 1956–1964 NASCAR
United States Richie Evans 1996 1941–1985 1962–1985 NASCAR
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 1990 1911–1995 1934–1958 Formula One
United States Charles "Red" Farmer 2004 b. 1928? 1946–present as of 2007 NASCAR
Italy Enzo Ferrari 1994 1898–1988 1919–1927 Formula One, Sports car racing Founder of Ferrari
Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 2003 b. 1946 1966–1996 Formula One, Indianapolis 500
United States Tim Flock 1991 1924–1998 1949–1956 NASCAR
United States John Force 2012 b. 1949 NHRA Drag racing
United States Henry Ford 1993 1863–1947 1902 Various Founder of Ford
United States A. J. Foyt 2000 b. 1935 1956–1985 Champ Car, NASCAR, sports car racing Founder of A.J. Foyt Enterprises
United States Ray Fox 2003 1917–2014 1955–1972 NASCAR
United States Bill France Jr. 2004 1933–2007 1960s–1970s NASCAR
United States Bill France Sr. 1990 1909–1992 1936–1946 NASCAR, IMSA Founder of NASCAR; founder of IMSA
United States Harry Gant 2006 b. 1940 1967–1996 NASCAR
United States Don Garlits 1997 b. 1932 1950s–1992 NHRA Drag racing
United States Bob Glidden 2005 1944-2017 1960s–1997 NHRA Drag racing
United States Andy Granatelli 1992 1923-2013 1948 Indianapolis 500, CEO of STP
United States Peter H. Gregg 1992 1940–1980 1958–1980 IMSA GT Championship
United States Dan Gurney 1990 1931-2018 1958–1980 Formula One, Indianapolis 500, sports car racing Owner, Chairman and CEO of AAR
United States Janet Guthrie 2006 b. 1938 1963–1980 Indianapolis 500, NASCAR
United Kingdom Mike Hailwood 2001 1940–1981 1957–1979 Formula One, Grand Prix motorcycle racing
United States Jim Hall 1997 b. 1935 1950s–1996 Formula One, Indianapolis 500, sports car racing
United States Chip Hanauer 2005 b. 1954 Hydroplane racing
United Kingdom Donald Healey 1996 1898–1988 1920s–1930s Rally Founder of Donald Healey Motor Company
United States Ray Hendrick 2007 1929–1990 1956–1970s Modified racing
United States Rick Hendrick 2013 b. 1949 1984–present NASCAR Modified racing; founder of Hendrick Motorsports
United Kingdom Graham Hill 1990 1929–1975 1958–1975 Formula One, Indianapolis 500, Sports car racing
United States Phil Hill 1991 1927–2008 1949–1967 Formula One, Sports car racing
United States Al Holbert 1993 1946–1988 1971–1988 Sports car racing
United States John Holman 2011 1918-1975 1952–1972 NASCAR
United States Tony Hulman 1990 1901–1977 1946–1977 Owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
New Zealand Denny Hulme 2002 1936–1992 1961–1974 Formula One, sports car racing
United States Harry Hyde 1999 1925–1996 1965–1991 NASCAR
United States Dale Inman 2013 b. 1936 NASCAR Crew chief
United States Jack Ingram 2007 b. 1936 1960s–1991 NASCAR
United States Bobby Isaac 1996 1932–1977 1956–1977 NASCAR Land speed record breaker
Belgium Jacky Ickx 2002 b. 1945 1965–1985 Formula One, Sports car racing
United States Ned Jarrett 1991 b. 1932 1952–1965 NASCAR NASCAR Commentator
United States Bill Jenkins 2008 1931–2012 1950s–1976 NHRA Drag racing
United States Gordon Johncock 1999 b. 1937 1965–1992 Indianapolis 500
United States Junior Johnson 1990 1931–2019 1955–1966 NASCAR
United States Warren Johnson 2007 b. 1943 1971–present NHRA Drag racing
United States Parnelli Jones 1990 b. 1933 1950s–1974 Indianapolis 500, Can Am Series, Trans Am Series, NASCAR
United States Mel Kenyon 2003 b. 1933 1954–2005 Midget car racing
United States Alan Kulwicki 2002 1954–1993 1973–1993 NASCAR
United States Frank Kurtis 2008 1908–1987 1930s–1962 Various, chassis and engine builder
Austria Niki Lauda 1993 1949-2019 1960s–1979, 1982–1985 Formula One
United States Fred Lorenzen 1991 b. 1934 1950s–1972 NASCAR
United States Tiny Lund 1994 1929–1975 1940s–1975 NASCAR
United Kingdom Nigel Mansell 2005 b. 1953 1976–1995, 1998 Formula One, Indianapolis 500 Sports car racing
United States John Marcum 1994 1913–1981 1930-mid-1940s Stock car racing ARCA founder
NASCAR official
United States Banjo Matthews 1998 1932–1996 1952–1963 NASCAR
United States Rex Mays 1993 1913–1949 1934–1949 Indianapolis 500
New Zealand Bruce McLaren 1991 1937–1970 1952–1970 Formula One, Sports car racing McLaren founder
United States Rick Mears 1997 b. 1951 1970s–1992 Indianapolis 500
United States Louis Meyer 1992 1904–1995 1920s–1939 Indianapolis 500
United States Ralph Moody 1994 1917–2004 1935–1957 NASCAR owner
United States Bud Moore 2009 1925–2017 1961–2001 NASCAR owner
United Kingdom Stirling Moss 1990 1929-2020 1948–1962 Formula One, Sports car racing
United States Shirley Muldowney 2004 b. 1940 1970s–1984, late 1980s–2003 NHRA Drag racing
United States Bill Muncey 2004 1929–1981 1950s–1981 Hydroplane racing
Italy Tazio Nuvolari 1998 1892–1953 1920–1940s Grand Prix motor racing, Mille Miglia
United States Fred Offenhauser 2001 1888–1973 1913–1946 Various, engine designer
United States Barney Oldfield 1990 1878–1946 1902–1918 barnstormer, land speed record
United States Jan Opperman 2011 1939–1997 Sprint cars
United States Cotton Owens 2008 1924–2012 1950s–1964 NASCAR
United States Raymond Parks 2009 1914-2010 1938–1951 NASCAR
United States Wally Parks 1992 1913–2007 NHRA Drag racing NHRA founder
United States Benny Parsons 1994 1941–2007 1960s–1988 NASCAR NASCAR commentator
United States David Pearson 1993 1934–2018 1960–1986 NASCAR
United States Roger Penske 1998 b. 1937 1958–1965 Formula One, NASCAR, Indy Car, Sports Car
United States Lee Petty 1990 1914–2000 1949–1964 NASCAR
United States Maurice Petty 2011 1939–2020 NASCAR Engine builder
United States Richard Petty 1997 b. 1937 1958–1992 NASCAR
Brazil Nelson Piquet 2000 b. 1952 1971–1991 Formula One
Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/Germany Ferdinand Porsche 1996 1875–1951 Porsche founder
France Alain Prost 1999 b. 1955 1969–1993 Formula One
United States Don Prudhomme 2000 b. 1941 1959–1994 NHRA Drag racing
United States Bobby Rahal 2004 b. 1953 1970s–1998 CART, Formula One Co-founder of Rahal Letterman Racing
United States Wayne Rainey 2007 b. 1960 1982–1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing/AMA Superbike
United Kingdom Brian Redman 2011 b. 1937 1968–1989 Formula racing, Sports car racing
United States Tim Richmond 2002 1955–1989 1976–1989 NASCAR, Indianapolis 500
United States Eddie Rickenbacker 1992 1890–1973 1912–1916 Indianapolis 500 Also owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
United States Fireball Roberts 1990 1929–1964 1947–1964 NASCAR
United States Kenny Roberts 1992 b. 1951 1974, 1978–1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing
United States Mauri Rose 1994 1906–1981 1941–1951 Indianapolis 500
United States Jack Roush 2006 b. 1942 NASCAR, sports car racing, NHRA Drag racing Founder of Roush Performance Racing
United States Johnny Rutherford 1996 b. 1938 1960s–1988 Indianapolis 500 NASCAR
United States Don Schumacher 2013 b. 1944 NHRA Drag racing
United States Wendell Scott 1999 1921–1990 1947–1973 NASCAR
United States Ralph Seagraves 2008 1929–1998 ?–1995 NASCAR, NHRA Drag racing initiated R. J. Reynolds sponsorship of motorsports
Brazil Ayrton Senna 2000 1960–1994 1973–1994 Formula One
United States Wilbur Shaw 1991 1902–1954 1920s–1941 Indianapolis 500
United States Carroll Shelby 1991 1923–2012 1950s–1941 Sports car racing, Formula One Founder of Carroll Shelby International
United States Bruton Smith 2007 b. 1927 N/A NASCAR
United States Louise Smith 1999 1916–2006 1949–1956 NASCAR
United Kingdom Jackie Stewart 1990 b. 1939 1963–1973 Formula One
United Kingdom John Surtees 1996 1934–2017 1952–1972 Formula One, Grand Prix motorcycle racing
United States Herb Thomas 1994 1923–2000 1949–1962 NASCAR
United States Mickey Thompson 1990 1928–1988 1949–1962 Various - Drag racing, Off-road racing Speed and endurance record breaker
United States Curtis Turner 1992 1924–1970 1946–1961, 1965–1967 NASCAR
United States Al Unser 1998 b. 1939 1957–1994 CART
United States Bobby Unser 1990 b. 1934 1960s–1993 Indianapolis 500
United States Bill Vukovich 1991 1918–1955 1945–1955 Indianapolis 500
United States Rusty Wallace 2013 b. 1956 1970s-2005 NASCAR, USAC NASCAR commentator
United States Darrell Waltrip 2005 b. 1947 1960s–2000 NASCAR
United States Rodger Ward 1992 1921–2004 1950–1966 Indianapolis 500
United States A. J. Watson 2003 1924–2014 1948–1982 Indianapolis 500 engine builder
United States Joe Weatherly 1994 1922–1964 1946–1964 NASCAR, AMA nationals
United States Humpy Wheeler 2006 b. 1938 NASCAR None
United States Rex White 2011 b. 1929 1956–1964 NASCAR
United States Glen Wood 2002 1925–2019 1953–1964 NASCAR
United States Cale Yarborough 1993 b. 1939 1957–1988 NASCAR, Indianapolis 500
United States Smokey Yunick 1990 1925–2001 1947–1973 NASCAR Motorcycle racing, Indianapolis 500

Class of 2014

  • Chuck Yeager
  • Leonard Wood
  • Lee Shepherd
  • Sir Henry Seagrave
  • Troy Ruttman
  • Les Richter
  • Marvin Panch
  • Danny Ongais
  • Tom "Mongoose" McEwen
  • Roger McLewskey
  • Joe Leonard
  • Connie Kalitta
  • Ted Horn

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Salón Internacional de la Fama de los Deportes a Motor para niños

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