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Motorsports hall of fame names 2008 inductees
International Motorsports Hall of Fame officials have announced six inductees for the 2008 class, including the first driver to win a NASCAR points championship and a marketer who helped power NASCAR's growth.
The six, determined by a panel of 125 international motorsports media, who will be enshrined in the Hall in Talladega, Ala., on April 24, 2008 are: Art Arfons, Robert "Red" Byron, Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, Frank Kurtis, Everett "Cotton" Owens and Ralph Seagraves.
Byron (1915-1960) got his start in the early 1930s in races in Talladega and won the first NASCAR-sanctioned race on the Daytona beach-road course on Feb. 15, 1948. He ran in six NASCAR races in 1949, winning two and earning 842.5 points to become the first driver to win a NASCAR points championship.
Seagraves (1928-1998) helped initiate R.J. Reynolds Tobacco's sponsorship of motorsports in the 1970s. He was president of Reynolds' Special Events Operations, now known as Sports Marketing Enterprises, from 1972 until his retirement in January 1985. During that period, Reynolds forged sponsor relationships with several motorsports sanctioning bodies, including NASCAR and the NHRA.
Afrons (1926-2007) is best known for setting the unlimited land speed record three times in his "Green Monster" racers. He also made significant contributions to drag racing, tractor pulling and powerboat racing during a five-decade career.
Jenkins' innovative use of his mechanical engineering skills in the mid-1950s produced many of drag racing's most successful vehicles. Considered the father of pro stock, Jenkins, built engines for 61 NHRA Eliminators, producing five championships and three ARHA championships. Jenkins also earned a considerable reputation as a driver, winning a combined total of 13 NHRA national Pro Stock events from 1965 to 1975 with one championship as a driver.
Kurtis (1908-1987), through his Kurtis-Kraft Inc. firm, produced 550 midgets in kit and "ready-to-run" forms. The combination of the Kurtis chassis powered by a smaller version of the famous Offenhauser engine was virtually unbeatable for more than 20 years.
Owens won more than 100 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour races during the 1950s before making the transition to the NASCAR Grand National series. As a car owner and driver, Owens' combined career statistics include 41 wins and 38 poles in 487 races.
The Hall is dedicated to the preservation of the history of motorsports. Each year, the annual International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is held on the grounds of the museum to honor those men and women chosen for induction from among the greatest names in all of motorsports.
International Motorsports Hall of Fame officials have announced six inductees for the 2008 class, including the first driver to win a NASCAR points championship and a marketer who helped power NASCAR's growth.
The six, determined by a panel of 125 international motorsports media, who will be enshrined in the Hall in Talladega, Ala., on April 24, 2008 are: Art Arfons, Robert "Red" Byron, Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, Frank Kurtis, Everett "Cotton" Owens and Ralph Seagraves.
Byron (1915-1960) got his start in the early 1930s in races in Talladega and won the first NASCAR-sanctioned race on the Daytona beach-road course on Feb. 15, 1948. He ran in six NASCAR races in 1949, winning two and earning 842.5 points to become the first driver to win a NASCAR points championship.
Seagraves (1928-1998) helped initiate R.J. Reynolds Tobacco's sponsorship of motorsports in the 1970s. He was president of Reynolds' Special Events Operations, now known as Sports Marketing Enterprises, from 1972 until his retirement in January 1985. During that period, Reynolds forged sponsor relationships with several motorsports sanctioning bodies, including NASCAR and the NHRA.
Afrons (1926-2007) is best known for setting the unlimited land speed record three times in his "Green Monster" racers. He also made significant contributions to drag racing, tractor pulling and powerboat racing during a five-decade career.
Jenkins' innovative use of his mechanical engineering skills in the mid-1950s produced many of drag racing's most successful vehicles. Considered the father of pro stock, Jenkins, built engines for 61 NHRA Eliminators, producing five championships and three ARHA championships. Jenkins also earned a considerable reputation as a driver, winning a combined total of 13 NHRA national Pro Stock events from 1965 to 1975 with one championship as a driver.
Kurtis (1908-1987), through his Kurtis-Kraft Inc. firm, produced 550 midgets in kit and "ready-to-run" forms. The combination of the Kurtis chassis powered by a smaller version of the famous Offenhauser engine was virtually unbeatable for more than 20 years.
Owens won more than 100 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour races during the 1950s before making the transition to the NASCAR Grand National series. As a car owner and driver, Owens' combined career statistics include 41 wins and 38 poles in 487 races.
The Hall is dedicated to the preservation of the history of motorsports. Each year, the annual International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is held on the grounds of the museum to honor those men and women chosen for induction from among the greatest names in all of motorsports.
