A-List presenters, inductees, guests celebrate at South Point Resort and Casino.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (March 20, 2025) – When you take your biggest annual event to Las Vegas – the nation’s Entertainment Capitol – you had best bring your A Game.
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame met that challenge on March 13, when it celebrated its 22nd Induction Gala, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. With a huge assist from the hosting South Point Resort and Casino, the sold-out celebration was nothing short of spectacular.
Among those impressed by the Hall’s first event outside California were guests Roger Penske and Richard Petty.
“I had no idea this dinner had grown to the heights it has,” said Penske, the 20-time Indianapolis 500 winning team owner and reigning NASCAR Cup Series championship car owner who inducted the Unser Family.
Petty, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, accepted the 2025 Knockin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year presented by 51FIFTY award on behalf of the family’s Victory Junction camp. He expressed pleasure in being a part of the festivities.
Added presenters included Daytona 500 winner and WCSCMHOF Derrike Cope; and NASCAR Cup Series champion and WCSCMHOF Kevin Harvick. NASCAR Cup Series champions and WCSCMHOF Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson presented via video. The Hall’s “Lady of the Century” Linda Vaughn also presented.
“In the near quarter century since the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame was founded, this year’s Gala and Induction dinner individual is the most successful individual event we’ve ever presented,” said Ken Clapp, West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame chairman and CEO. “Speaking for the Board of Directors and myself, we are gratified at the never-ending compliments we’ve received.”
Larree Renda, a member of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors, lauded Clapp during the evening’s program. “Ken has touched the lives of tens of thousands of people … colleagues, family, friends with kindness humor, empathy and generosity and the legacy he has created is what brings us together tonight to celebrate these amazing and accomplished race car drivers, owners and promoters.”
Highlights of the event will broadcast later this year, with media, date and time to be announced.
Members of the Class of 2025 are AJ Allmendinger, Los Gatos, Calif., NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series veteran; Chuck Gurney, Oakland, Calif., United States Auto Club Silver Crown and supermodified champion; Davey Hamilton, Nampa, Idaho, Canadian-American Modified Association champion, Indianapolis 500 veteran and race promoter; Jeff Jefferson, Naches, Wash., three-time NASCAR Northwest Series driver champion and former NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West owner; Justin Marks, Menlo Park, Calif., founder and team owner of Trackhouse Entertainment Group and Trackhouse Racing; Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif., Sports Car Club of America Trans-Am and GRAND-AM GT champion; Rick Ware, Los Angeles, Calif., owner of teams competing in NASCAR Cup Series, the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the NTT INDYCAR Series, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, and FIM World Supercross and AMA American Flat Track motorcycles.
The 2025 Heritage Class is comprised of the racing Unser family, nine-time Indianapolis 500 winners Al Unser, Al Unser Jr. and Bobby Unser; Idaho sprint car and supermodified champion Ken Hamilton; three generations of the Hunt family – Joe, Tommy and Tony; California supermodified champion Mike Sargent; and two-time United States Auto Club national midget champion Sleepy Tripp.
The organization’s second Pioneers of Speed are Michael (Blackie) Gejeian, Fresno, Calif. race and auto show promoter; Ted Halibrand, Southern California pioneer of wheels and brakes; Ed Iskenderian, Los Angeles, known as “The Camfather;” Jack London, Oakland, Calif., midget competitor and longtime Bay Cities Racing Association president; and Wally Parks, founder of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
Event emcee was West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame president and earlier inductee Ralph Sheheen. Mariah McGriff O’Neil, granddaughter of NASCAR Hall of Famer and WCSCMHOF Hershel McGriff, hosted the awards presentations.
The date of the 2026 West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame will be announced later this year.
Dennis Mattish Photography
Banquet hall at South Point Resort and Casino (top left) 2025 Knockin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year presentation Jason VanDusen, Carlos Vieira, Mariah McGriff O’Neil, Richard Petty (top right) Lisa Unser, Roger Penske, Mariah McGriff O’Neil, Al Unser Jr. (bottom left) Linda Vaughn, Boris Said, Mariah McGriff O’Neil
About the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame:
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame was conceived in 2001 as a means of recognizing significant contributors and contributions to the sport of stock car/motorsports competition. The mission of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is founded to preserve history and heritage of the important role west coast stock car and motorsports figures 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.
The Hall is a 501(c)3, soon to be (c)4 charitable organization, dedicated to supporting a variety of organizations and groups from coast to coast. The Hall has raised more than $1 million during the past 6-1/2 years for youth, health and safety, hospitals, animal rescue, military and other charitable causes.
For more information on the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame visit: www.WestCoastStockCarHallofFame.com
Media Contact:
Owen A. Kearns
okearns@bak.rr.com
661-342-2983
About 51FIFTY
51FIFTY is power! Power to overcome, power to persevere, the power to set your life on the course of success. When you’re faced with the challenge’s life throws at you, you focus and do what is needed to go beyond what is required. Stand up, stand firm, believe, make it happen and live through the madness, knockin’ doors down along the way!
51FIFTY represents the lifestyle we choose to live, to have confidence in ourselves, to not let anyone or anything stop us, to overcome all adversity. We choose to be who we’re meant to be. We help others with empathy, compassion and honor. We see a world that is destined for greatness when we lift each other up rather than tearing each other down.
We choose to help, focus on community and inspire those around us. We are 51FIFTY!
Contact:
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51FIFTY Enterprises
jvandusen@51fiftyltm.com
925-980-7673