(Note: This is the second of a series of press releases on the 2017 inductees into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. The 14th Annual Induction Ceremony, presented by Gateway Motorsports Park, will be held June 22 at the Meritage Resort in Napa, Calif.)
PHOENIX (June 5, 2017) – Michael Gaughan, born in Omaha, Neb., was elected to the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame with the Class of 2016 but requested his induction be deferred until this June.
The 74-year-old Las Vegas resident, a second generation member of a pioneer gaming and hospitality family, competed as an off-road racer for more than two decades, winning the 1966 Mint 400 among other events.
Gaughan’s South Point Racing, in association with West Coast Stock Car Hall of Famer Bill McAnally, captured three consecutive NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championships with Sean Woodside (1999) and son Brendan Gaughan (2000-01) The Las Vegas-based team posted nine victories in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with the younger Gaughan and Steve Park.
Michael Gaughan’s South Point Hotel and Casino property continues as a primary sponsor for his son’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Chevrolet team, owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress. The popular South Las Vegas Boulevard property is a must stay and play destination for NASCAR teams and fans and hosts a variety to top sports events throughout the year.
Gaughan is a member of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame and National Gaming Hall of Fame. Upon his 2009 induction into the Gaming Hall, Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., the organization’s president and chief executive officer, called Gaughan “one of the most beloved employers in the industry. Michael’s casinos have helped shape the city making it what it is today. He created friendly, nurturing working environments (and) thus, his casinos have boasted more long-term employees than many in our transient industry.”
Gaughan joins Walker Evans, Joe Leonard, Gene Price, Scott Pruett, Frank Secrist and Kenneth Takeuchi in the 2017 WCSCHOF class of inductees.
The 2017 Induction Ceremony, presented by Gateway Motorsports Park, is open to the public on a limited, space-available basis. Reservation information is available by emailing the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame at jwentzel@phoenixraceway.com.
About the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame:
The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame was conceived in 2001 as a means of recognizing significant contributors and contributions to the sport of stock car racing. The mission of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame is founded to preserve history and heritage of the important role west coast stock car competitors have played in the sport’s development and continuation and to recognize, through annual enshrinement, of outstanding individuals and groups within the sport such as, but not limited to, designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists, and members of the motorsports media.
About Gateway Motorsports Park
Gateway Motorsports Park is the home of INDYCAR, NASCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 340 acres, Gateway Motorsports Park is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. Gateway Motorsports Park’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, 1.6-mile road course, a state-of-the-art Karting facility and a 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue.
Contact:
West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame
Owen A. Kearns
661-342-2983
okearns@bak.rr.com