SAMMY SWINDELL LEADS “CLASS OF ‘06” INTO
NATIONAL SPRINT CAR HALL OF FAME
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (February 24, 2006) -
Three-time World
of Outlaws
(WoO) and 1983 Knoxville Nationals champion Sammy
Swindell leads the induction ‘class of 2006’ into the National Sprint Car Hall
of Fame. Thirteen individuals will be
inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon, June
3, during the seventeenth annual ceremonies on the Marion County Fairgrounds in
Knoxville, Iowa. Those elected
by the National Induction Committee are:
Drivers: Johnny Hannon,
Rickey Hood, Lee Kunzman, Francis Quinn, Jimmy Sills,
Sammy Swindell, Granville “Buster” Warke.
Owners-Mechanics-Builders-Manufacturers-Car
Sponsors: Bob Pankratz, Jud Phillips, Taylor “Pappy” Weld.
Promoters-Officials-Media
Members-Event/Series Sponsors: Lanny Edwards, Newton
“Buzz” Rose, Ted Wilson.
According to National Sprint Car Hall
of Fame & Museum Foundation executive director Thomas J. Schmeh, “Wow. This is another stellar class of inductees,
led by ‘modern era’ champions Rickey Hood of Arizona, Lee Kunzman
of Indiana, Jimmy Sills of California, and Sammy Swindell of Tennessee. It’s a neat
connection with Hood and Swindell having grown up as second-generation racers
at the Riverside Speedway bull-ring in West Memphis, Arkansas. And we’re
thrilled to be honoring ‘Buster’ Warke of
Pennsylvania in his lifetime; it’s just too bad that we couldn’t do the same
for fellow drivers Johnny Hannon and Francis Quinn. In addition, we couldn’t be happier about
having the opportunity to educate modern fans about the great mechanical work
of Bob Pankratz, Jud Phillips, and ‘Pappy’ Weld, respectively. Finally, we look forward to honoring promoter
Lanny Edwards of the Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, racer-turned-author ‘Buzz’ Rose of Arizona, and
Thirties-era photographer Ted Wilson from the West Coast. The induction banquet on Saturday, June 3,
will be a very special event for many people!”
Those seeking more information on the National Sprint Car
Hall of Fame are encouraged to visit the web site at www.sprintcarhof.com.