13 Racers to be Inducted into Hall of Fame
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Siara [email protected]
Hall of Fame organizer Ron Prater started the Hall of Fame last year and said there is one special inductee this year who won’t be revealed until the ceremony. The other 12 being inducted this year include: Arnold Prater, Glenn Bradley, Tommy Latter, Randy Woodling, Shane Denny, Harvey Hays, John Fitzpatrick, Robert Johnson Jr., Paul Bills, Larry Montel and the late Bob Johnson Sr. and late Dan Backus.
Prater said these individuals were selected this year because they deserved it. He said many of these drivers have won races in Montpelier, Kokomo, Eldora and many others.
“Many of them have won all over the country,” Prater said. “Most of them say they are not deserving to be in the Hall of Fame, but they are.”
The inductees have diverse backgrounds and histories with racing. Some of them have third and fourth generations of racing in their families. Some started racing as a teenager and one even started racing at 49 years old. One thing all of the inductees have in common is that they are “homegrown racers” and their racing career began in Warsaw.
Prater said racing has always been the heart of Warsaw, and when other racers would travel to Warsaw, “they knew they would have a fight on their hands.”
Prater said this is also the 25th anniversary of the closing of the Warsaw Speedway. It closed Aug. 11, 1989. He said the speedway was a family track and it also helped to keep kids out of trouble. He said the speedway wasn’t just about racing, but also about family, and creating the Hall of Fame has helped to remind people of this.
“It’s a part of our history, and people should step back and realize that,” Prater said.
He said in just the two years of starting the Hall of Fame, he has already noticed more interest and a gain of sponsors for next year.
The gates for the race this weekend open at 4 p.m. and the race starts at 7 p.m. The Hall of Fame ceremony will be held during the intermission of the race. There will also be a Hall of Fame in June for sprint car racers.
Those elected this year for the Hall of Fame will receive a plaque and their names with join the list on display at the fairgrounds year-round. Prater said for the future, he would like to see a building filled with memorabilia dedicated to the Warsaw Speedway.
For more information on the Hall of Fame, or to suggest individuals for next year, visit the “We Want Another Warsaw Speedway” Facebook page.[[In-content Ad]]
Hall of Fame organizer Ron Prater started the Hall of Fame last year and said there is one special inductee this year who won’t be revealed until the ceremony. The other 12 being inducted this year include: Arnold Prater, Glenn Bradley, Tommy Latter, Randy Woodling, Shane Denny, Harvey Hays, John Fitzpatrick, Robert Johnson Jr., Paul Bills, Larry Montel and the late Bob Johnson Sr. and late Dan Backus.
Prater said these individuals were selected this year because they deserved it. He said many of these drivers have won races in Montpelier, Kokomo, Eldora and many others.
“Many of them have won all over the country,” Prater said. “Most of them say they are not deserving to be in the Hall of Fame, but they are.”
The inductees have diverse backgrounds and histories with racing. Some of them have third and fourth generations of racing in their families. Some started racing as a teenager and one even started racing at 49 years old. One thing all of the inductees have in common is that they are “homegrown racers” and their racing career began in Warsaw.
Prater said racing has always been the heart of Warsaw, and when other racers would travel to Warsaw, “they knew they would have a fight on their hands.”
Prater said this is also the 25th anniversary of the closing of the Warsaw Speedway. It closed Aug. 11, 1989. He said the speedway was a family track and it also helped to keep kids out of trouble. He said the speedway wasn’t just about racing, but also about family, and creating the Hall of Fame has helped to remind people of this.
“It’s a part of our history, and people should step back and realize that,” Prater said.
He said in just the two years of starting the Hall of Fame, he has already noticed more interest and a gain of sponsors for next year.
The gates for the race this weekend open at 4 p.m. and the race starts at 7 p.m. The Hall of Fame ceremony will be held during the intermission of the race. There will also be a Hall of Fame in June for sprint car racers.
Those elected this year for the Hall of Fame will receive a plaque and their names with join the list on display at the fairgrounds year-round. Prater said for the future, he would like to see a building filled with memorabilia dedicated to the Warsaw Speedway.
For more information on the Hall of Fame, or to suggest individuals for next year, visit the “We Want Another Warsaw Speedway” Facebook page.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092