Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

10/12/2021

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America held a special press conference last Thursday at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee to announce that its final inductee (Historic Category) of the Class of 2022 will be the Harley-Davidson founders. MSHFA President George Levy, along with David Hobbs (MSHFA Class of 2009), announced that William S. Harley and brothers Arthur, Walter, and William A. Davidson will go into the Hall of Fame together as a quartet. They cofounded the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in 1903, the definitive American motorcycle brand, and makers of some of the most celebrated motorcycles in racing history. William A. Davidson’s grandson, Willie G. Davidson, great grandson Bill Davidson and great granddaughter Karen Davidson represented the founders at the announcement. The first eight Class of 2022 inductees were announced in a special press conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 13. The full Harley-Davidson event press release report, which includes links to a record of the announcement's livestream broadcast, is available trough the press release by clicking at: https://conta.cc/3v4mLqP

10/06/2021

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) pulled off an unprecedented three days of racing celebrations last week, including the 32nd and 33rd Annual MSHFA Induction Ceremonies Presented by Firestone in the new M1 Concourse Event Center in Pontiac, Michigan. All events were attended by a galaxy of racing stars. This mega-celebration of speed was scheduled after the pandemic forced postponement of the 2020 and 2021 class inductions. It was the first dual induction celebration in the 33-year history of the MSHFA. The Class of 2020 was inducted on Monday, September 27, while the Class of 2021 held its celebration on Wednesday, September 29. To top it all off, on Tuesday, September 28, sandwiched between the back-to-back inductions, the MSHFA held a historic doubleheader – the Inductee Heritage Brunch followed by an epic Heroes of Horsepower event at The Henry Ford Museum. Racing legends from both the 2020 and ’21 classes and a star-studded list of previous MSHFA inductees attended. Read the full press release report here: https://conta.cc/3Fj5D5l

09/27/2021

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’s Class of 2020 induction ceremony will be live-streamed on the MSHFA page beginning tonight at 7:40 p.m. from the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. To access the live stream go online to facebook.com/MotorsportsHOF. The MSHFA Class of 2020 includes NASCAR's first-ever champion Robert “Red” Byron (Historic), flat-track impresario Chris Carr (Motorcycles), early motorcycle racer, promoter and publisher Floyd Clymer (At Large), driver, official and safety advocate Wally Dallenbach, Sr. (Open Wheel), Rick Hendrick, one of NASCAR's most successful owners (Stock Cars), Daytona 500 champion Tiny Lund (Historic), Can-Am and Rolex 24 At Daytona champion Jacky Ickx (Sports Cars), quarter-mile racing legend “Ohio George” Montgomery (Drag Racing) and multi-time Baja 1000 and SCORE Champion Ivan “Ironman” Stewart (Off-Road).

09/11/2021

The display cases for our Class of 2021 inductees are up and beautiful, including this one of 2006 MotoGP champion "The Kentucky Kid" Nicky Hayden. Thanks to the Hayden family, Jackie Marin, Chris Jonnum and Alpinestars — plus Dorna for donating an exact replica of Nicky's 2006 MotoGP World Championship trophy. You can see all of the 2021 display cases when you visit our museum on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway. @alpinestars #AlpinestarsProtects #AlpinestarsChampion #MSHF #motorsportshof #heroesofhorsepower #MotoGP #Dorna #Owensboro #NickyHayden #daytonainternationalspeedway #daytonabeach

09/06/2021

Daytona summer racing weekend news

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America enjoyed the benefits of a busy race weekend at Daytona International Speedway, which hosted NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series races Aug. 27-28. Saturday night’s Cup regular season finale was won by 27-year-old Ryan Blaney in his Team Penske Ford Mustang.
The MSHFA had visits from special guests, including a camera crew from NBC Sports, which highlighted some of the museum’s numerous NASCAR stock car artifacts.

“Saturday we had a huge crowd at the Hall of Fame in the run up to the race,” said Motorsports Hall of Fame of America president George Levy. “People could take in motorsports history at the Hall of Fame, then watch history in the making in the House that France Built.”

Allison treasure begins rebirth

One of NASCAR’s premier engine builders, Doug Yates, along with Roush Yates Racing Vice President of Marketing Todd English and executive vice president Jeff Clark inspected, then authenticated, a truly special race car.

More than two decades ago, the MSHFA was gifted what appeared to be a Ford Ta**us show car in Dale Jarrett livery from Robert Yates Racing. Robert, who passed away in 2017, is the father of Doug Yates.

But the MSHFA was told at the time that the Ta**us had started its racing life as a No. 28 Davey Allison Thunderbird. After suffering minor damage in a crash, the car was sent to the back of the shop and later dressed with a Ta**us body after Jarrett won the 1999 NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Last year crew chief Joey Knuckles verified during a museum visit that it is a chassis built for the 1991 NASCAR Cup season with the internal codename “Superstar.” Yates confirmed during his visit that it is in fact the Allison Superstar car.

Superstar led all three races in which Davey is known to have raced it and is still intact under the skin exactly as Davey had it, including Allison’s custom ButlerBuilt seat and Sweet Manufacturing steering wheel.

The MSHFA has decided to put a period-correct Davey Allison Thunderbird body back on the frame and restore the stock car to its full original configuration and Texaco Havoline livery. Bill Rhine of Denver, NC’s Rhine Enterprise will oversee the restoration. Knuckles and Yates have offered to assist.

“Our goal is to raise $75,000 for the restoration,” said Motorsports Hall of Fame of America president George Levy. “Bill and his team do a fantastic job and we want Superstar to be restored to its full Superstar glory, so fans who visit the Hall can enjoy it exactly as it was when the 2021 inductee drove it.”

If you’d like to contribute to the Davey-Superstar Restoration Fund, contact George at (248) 895-1704 or [email protected]

Daytona 500 Champion returns

Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell spent part of Aug. 27 in and around the MSHFA Museum. McDowell went to visit the car – the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford – that propelled him to victory in February.

The bright yellow stock car sits on a platform in an area immediately adjacent to the museum.

After seeing his car, Speedway officials took McDowell out to the Daytona 500 Champions’ Walk of Fame, where he left the imprint of his hands, right foot and signature in wet cement.

The Walk of Fame is just outside the museum as part of the Speedway’s Ticket and Tours Building.

“To be put in the same category as some of the greatest drivers in the history of our sport, a Daytona 500 champion, is just mind-boggling to me. I am truly humbled and so proud. It’s been a dream,” said McDowell, whose victory in February was his first career triumph.

About the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

About the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America: The MSHFA is the only hall that honors all American motorsports: cars, motorcycles, airplanes, off road and powerboats. Its mission is to celebrate and instill the American motorsports values of leadership, creativity, originality, teamwork and spirit of competition. Founded by Larry G. Ciancio and Ronald A. Watson, it held its first induction in 1989. Watson spent the next 30 years tirelessly building it into the nation’s premier such hall until his passing in 2019. The original museum in Novi, Mich., relocated to Daytona Beach, Fla., in 2016 and greets more than 100,000 guests a year. MSHFA is operated by the nonprofit Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation, Inc.

 All photos courtesy of Thomas R. Miller Photography

08/28/2021

Congratulations to Michael McDowell for becoming part of the DAYTONA 500 Champions’ Walk of Fame in front of the Daytona International Speedway Ticket & Tours Building, where the MSHFA is located.

08/25/2021

It is crushing to report that Class of 2021 inductee Robin Miller is gone. We knew from Robin that he was unlikely to be around for his induction in late September, so we moved the clock forward a bit. We are indebted to Roger Penske, Doug Boles, Helio Castroneves, Dave Furst, Suzi Elliott, Dave Gutierrez, SJ Luedtke, Alex Damron, Maddie Komar, Paul Pfanner and everyone at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, at Michael Shank Racing, at RACER.com and Robin's family and best buds who all made it possible to honor him at the Speedway 12 days ago. Race in peace, my friend. The honor was all ours. #motorsportshof #heroesofhorsepower #MSHF #racer #RobinMiller #IndyCar #PenskeRacing #HelioCastroneves #indianapolismotorspeedway #iftheresaracingheaven

It is crushing to report that Class of 2021 inductee Robin Miller is gone. We knew from Robin that he was unlikely to be around for his induction in late September, so we moved the clock forward a bit. We are indebted to Roger Penske, Doug Boles, Helio Castroneves, Dave Furst, Suzi Elliott, Dave Gutierrez, SJ Luedtke, Alex Damron, Maddie Komar, Paul Pfanner and everyone at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, at Michael Shank Racing, at RACER.com and Robin's family and best buds who all made it possible to honor him at the Speedway 12 days ago. Race in peace, my friend. The honor was all ours. #motorsportshof #heroesofhorsepower #MSHF #racer #RobinMiller #IndyCar #PenskeRacing #HelioCastroneves #indianapolismotorspeedway #iftheresaracingheaven

08/13/2021

Miller honored in special Motorsport Hall of Fame ceremony at IMS

The honor was all ours at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. A true privilege to welcome two of racing's most inspirational people of 2021 into the MSHFA.

RACER and NBC Sports IndyCar journalist Robin Miller was honored by the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in a special ceremony at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday ahead of this weekend&…

08/13/2021

After record-tying Indy win, Helio tops HOF class

Eight legends from the world of motorsports, including four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, were named to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) as the 34th class was unveiled on Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). A ninth inductee, in the Historic Category, will be unveiled later this month in a separate announcement. Here is the Associated Press report via ESPN.

As he continues to celebrate his record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in May, Helio Castroneves has been named as the headliner of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America induction class for 2022.

08/13/2021

It was an honor enough to have Doug Boles and Helio Castroneves join MSHFA President George Levy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this morning for the announcement of eight of the nine members of the Hall's Class of 2022. But to have Roger Penske (MSHFA Class of 1995) and MSHFA Class of 2021 Inductee (Media) Robin Miller join us at the end was amazing, courageous, moving and, as always, funny and entertaining. Robin isn't well enough to make it to Detroit next month for the Hall's dual 2020/2021 Induction Celebrations, but he wasn't about to miss the chance to accept his "Heroes of Horsepower" award at IMS this morning leading into this weekend's tripleheader. It's an honor and privilege to have two of motorsport's more colorful characters like Robin and Helio (MSHFA Class of '22 Open Wheel) join our 276 other inductees in the MSHFA and Museum at Daytona International Speedway. We can't thank everyone at Penske, IMS, IndyCar, Michael Shank Racing and Robin's incredible family and gang of "best buds" for making this memorable moment happen.

08/13/2021

Eight legends from the world of motorsports, including four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, were named to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) as the 34th class was unveiled on Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). A ninth inductee, in the Historic Category, will be unveiled later this month in a separate announcement. The Class of 2022 includes the designer of the 1965 World Champion Cobra Daytona Coupes, Pete Brock (Sports Cars), the first foreign-born four-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Helio Castroneves (Open Wheel), the only person in history to win NHRA Top Fuel championships as a driver and crew chief, Dick LaHaie (Drag Racing), “The Henry Ford of race cars,” NASCAR builder Banjo Matthews (Business), the only woman to receive the Ken W. Purdy Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism, Denise McCluggage (Media), NASCAR cofounder and championship-winning team owner Raymond Parks (Historic), “The Cat in the Hat” who has masterminded more than 300 NASCAR wins, Jack Roush (Stock Cars) and motorcycle racing innovators who have won NHRA drag racing titles, AMA Supersport and Superbike titles, two Daytona 200s and more, Terry Vance & Byron Hines (Motorcycles). The MSHFA Class of 2022 was unveiled in a press conference at IMS featuring Castroneves, IMS President Doug Boles and MSHFA President George Levy. Read the full announcement press release here: https://conta.cc/3sbqu4o

07/18/2021

People ask us why we love motor racing so much. Earlier this week, lifelong NASCAR fan Jerry Joiner passed away. He was interred this morning. He and his wife Jackie met Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell, driver of the #34, earlier this year at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. The Joiners became instant McDowell fans. Look closely at the C-pillar of the #34. These photos were taken moments before the start of today's New Hampshire race. God bless everyone on the Front Row Motorsports team. Today of all days, Jerry is racing again. #FrontRowMotorsports #MichaelMcDowell #motorsportshof
#heroesofhorsepower #motorsportslegends #MSHF #nascar #daytonainternationalspeedway #daytonabeach #brotherhoodandsisterhoodofspeed

07/09/2021

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Merch | Motorsports Hall of Fame Of America

Want some great merch and help the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America at the same time? Click on the link below or go to mshfmerch.com. #MSHF #motorsportshof #motorsportslegends #heroesofhorsepower

https://mshfmerch.com

The official merchandise store for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

07/01/2021

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America will be CLOSED for one day only, SUNDAY, JULY 4th, to give our amazing team a little rest and the opportunity to spend Independence Day with their families. You can see the amazing John Greenwood Stars 'N Stripes IMSA Corvette and a whole bunch of other treasures of American motorsports history at our place today through Saturday, then resuming July 5th and everyday thereafter. From L to R, that's John's brother Burt, seated, next to John's grandkids and their dad, John's son. Great photo from Thomas R. Miller Photography. #heroesofhorsepower #motorsportshof #motorsportslegends #MSHF #johngreenwood #burtgreenwood #IMSA #imsaracing #daytonabeach #visitflorida #daytonainternationalspeedway #24heuresdumans

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America will be CLOSED for one day only, SUNDAY, JULY 4th, to give our amazing team a little rest and the opportunity to spend Independence Day with their families. You can see the amazing John Greenwood Stars 'N Stripes IMSA Corvette and a whole bunch of other treasures of American motorsports history at our place today through Saturday, then resuming July 5th and everyday thereafter. From L to R, that's John's brother Burt, seated, next to John's grandkids and their dad, John's son. Great photo from Thomas R. Miller Photography. #heroesofhorsepower #motorsportshof #motorsportslegends #MSHF #johngreenwood #burtgreenwood #IMSA #imsaracing #daytonabeach #visitflorida #daytonainternationalspeedway #24heuresdumans