Bliss, Gloy, Kendall, Mears and Snider among honorees from 2020 and 2021 classes
BAKERSFIELD, Calif., June 1, 2021 – A unique, double induction ceremony will honor 2020 and 2021 enshrinees into the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 5. Last year’s inductions were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The gala, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway Motorsports Park, returns to the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, Calif. and serves as the middle event of the NASCAR Cup Series and ARCA Menards Series West weekend at nearby Sonoma Raceway.
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is nationally covered by MAVTV. Highlights of the June 5 gala will be aired by the network later this summer, times and dates to be announced.
Elected for induction in the Class of 2020 are NASCAR and USAC champion Mike Bliss; racing industry sponsor Craig Keough; four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Rick Mears; NASCAR regional champion Jim Pettit II; and four-time ARCA Menards West championship crew chief Jerry Pitts.
The Class of 2021 is comprised of NASCAR regional champion Dave Byrd; Las Vegas Motor Speedway builder Richie Clyne; Sports Car Club of American Trans Am champions Tom Gloy and Tommy Kendall and 22-time Indianapolis 500 starter George Snider.
2020 Heritage honorees, individuals from an earlier era of motorsport, are three-time Stockton 99 (Calif.) Speedway champion and 500-race winner Harry Belletto; NASCAR supermodified champion Howard Kaeding; international road racing star Ken Miles; NASCAR car owner Jim Pettit Sr.; and sprint car champion Billy Wilkerson.
2021 Heritage inductees are open-wheel and USAC championship star Dick Atkins; former AT&T president, cable television executive and endurance competitor Leo Hindery Jr.; Corvette and Shelby-American racing star Dave MacDonald; industry innovator and sponsor Howard Welch; and racing component builder Ron Zajicek.
Linda Vaughn will be honored as the Motorsports Lady of the Century. The inaugural Knockin Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year award, presented by Carlos Vieira and his foundation, will be presented to Mike Curb, recording executive, racing industry sponsor and West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee.
Serving again as master of ceremonies is Ralph Sheheen, owner and publisher of National Speed Sport News. The annual affair serves as the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s major charity fundraiser. The Hall, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, has gifted more than $600,000 over the past five years.
West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s roster of national sponsors that include Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Toyota Dealers Association, Goodyear Racing, Hoosier Tires, NAPA Auto Parts, the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and Sunoco. The Hall’s presenting sponsors are World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway Motorsports Park, Eberle Winery and 51FIFTY Energy Drinks.
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is supported by NASCAR and its west coast tracks Auto Club Speedway and Phoenix Raceway. Speedway Motorsports Inc. properties Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Sonoma Raceway also are participating sponsors, as is Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway, Madera (Calif.) Speedway and Stockton 99 (Calif.) Speedway.
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 charitable organization, dedicated to supporting a variety of organizations and groups from coast to coast. During its tenure, the Hall has raised more than $600,000 in the past five of its 20 years for youth, health and safety, hospitals, animal rescue and other charitable causes.
For additional information about the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame and its charities, please visit WestCoastStockCarHallofFame.com.
Media Information
Owen A. Kearns
661-342-2983
okearns@bak.rr.com