Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Northeast Dirt Modified
Hall of Fame

Museum Exhibits
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Established	April 12, 1992 (1992-04-12)
Location	1 Speedway Dr Weedsport, New York, USA
Type	Modified Stock Car Racing (Dirt Surface)

The Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame is a special place that celebrates amazing people in the world of stock car racing. It was started in 1992 to honor drivers and others who have done great things in this exciting sport. You can find it in Weedsport, New York.

History of the Hall of Fame

The very first group of honorees was welcomed into the Hall of Fame on April 12, 1992. This first group included 12 drivers and one "pioneer" driver. A pioneer driver is someone who helped start or shape the sport a long time ago.

A group of motorsports journalists chose the first inductees. After the ceremony, a special Hall of Fame race was held at Weedsport Speedway.

Special Awards and Honors

In 1993, the Hall of Fame started giving out awards to people who weren't drivers. The first new award was named after Leonard J. Sammons Jr. It honored people who made big contributions to the sport. Later, awards were added for car owners and for mechanics or engineers.

In 2002, an award was created to celebrate outstanding women in racing. In 2015, after Andy Fusco passed away, an award for excellence in media was named in his memory. Sometimes, the Jack Burgess Memorial Award is given to a race announcer who has made a lasting impact.

Hall of Fame Inductees

The Hall of Fame honors many talented drivers and pioneers. These tables show who was inducted each year. The "P" next to a name means they were chosen as a Pioneer.

Inductees from 1992 to 2010

Inductees from 2011 to Present

P= Pioneer Selection

Special Awards Given

The Hall of Fame also gives out special awards to recognize different roles in racing. Here's what each award means:

• Burgess: Jack Burgess Memorial Award (for announcers)
• Media: Andrew S. Fusco Award for Media Excellence (for people in racing media)
• Mechanic: Mechanic/Engineering Award (for skilled mechanics and engineers)
• Owner: Gene DeWitt Car Owner Award (for car owners)
• Contributor: Leonard J. Sammons Jr. Award for Outstanding Contribution to Auto Racing (for people who help the sport in many ways)
• OWR: Outstanding Women in Racing Award (for amazing women in racing)

Awards from 1993 to 2001

Awards from 2002 to 2014

Awards from 2015 to Present

The Museum Experience

A view inside the museum, showing historic race cars.

The Dirt Modified Stock Car Museum is a non-profit organization. It is officially recognized by the New York State Department of Education. Besides the Hall of Fame, the museum has many cool things to see. You can find historic race cars, classic cars, unique racing items, and rare photos.

One special car on display is 'The X car'. This is a 1950s flathead stock car. Driver Frank André won many races with it in Northern New York and Southern Canada. Another famous car is the black #112 Lincoln Town Car Mark X/1, nicknamed "Batmobile." Gary Balough drove this car to win the 1980 Schaefer 200 race.

The museum also has a quiet memorial. It honors individuals who lost their lives in racing. At the end of your visit, you can check out the "Jack Burgess Memorial Video Room." There's also a gift shop where you can buy clothes, souvenirs, and special collector items.