On June 22, the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame will celebrate its 14th induction and fifth at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif.
And, because the hotel and its staff have the ability to increase available space for the event, there will be a limited number of seats set aside for fans and members of the public available on the first-come basis.
Tickets are priced at $250 and include admittance to the pre-ceremony cocktail hour as well as a gourmet meal.
Reservations can be obtained by contacting Jennifer Wentzel at jwentzell@phoenixraceway.com. The evening is expected to sell out quickly with a record crowd expected for the 2017 event.
Previous inductions, which began in 2002, have taken place at a number of locations – the majority in the southern California communities of Monrovia, Irwindale and Azusa. Ceremonies moved to northern California in 2012 and have served as kickoff to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West weekend at Sonoma Raceway. There were no inductions in 2007-08.
The 2017 Class will be comprised of seven inductees – Walker Evans, Michael Gaughan, Joe Leonard, Gene Price, Scott Pruett, Frank Secrist and Kenny Takeuchi. The current base induction is five honorees annually, with Gaughan’s induction carried over from 2016 and Takeuchi added as a media inductee. Takeuchi is the fifth media member selected to the Hall, joining Shav Glick, Gordon Martin, Owen A. Kearns and John Cardinale.
The Hall’s largest class – 30 members – was enshrined in 2002. Members of that initial class include J.C. Agajanian, Ray Elder, Parnelli Jones, Jack McCoy, Hershel McGriff, Les Richter, and Troy Ruttman. Other large classes included 14 in 2005 and 12 in 2003.
This year’s seven-member class will bring the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame’s membership to 141.