Ocala, Fla. (FEBRUARY 5, 2016) – Three new presenters have been named to introduce the audience to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame’s (IDRHoF) “Class of 2016” inductees. An unfortunate death and personal conflicts necessitated the selection of new presenters. The 26th annual International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet presented by Lucas Oil Products will be held at the Wyndham Garden Hotel Gainesville (formerly the Paramount Plaza Hotel & Suites) on Thursday, March 17, 2016.
Presenting Jack Doyle (Wakefield, N.H.), considered by many to be the “Godfather of New England drag racing” and longtime General Manager of the New England Dragway (Epping, N.H.) will be Don Roberts (Stoneham, Mass.), who drove Doyle’s Top Gas entry in the late 1960s to several important wins, and worked with Doyle as the Marketing and Promotions Manager at the racetrack.
The new presenter for the late Marvin Miller (Bakersfield, Calif.), a partner in the famed Warren, Colburn and Miller “Ridge Route Terrors”/”Rain for Rent” Top Fuel Team, and longtime owner of the famed Famoso Raceway will be Ron Capps (Carlsbad, Calif.), driver of the NAPA-sponsored Dodge Funny Car from Don Schumacher Racing.
Mark Oswald (Houma, La.), the former Funny Car World Champion and the Don Schumacher Racing’s co-crew chief for two-time World Champion Antron Brown’s Top Fuel MATCO Tools team, will be presented by successful and popular second-generation Top Fuel and Funny Car driver and television drag racing analyst, Mike Dunn (Wrightsville, Pa.).
Other presenters include:
Raymond Godman (Memphis, Tenn.), a Hall of Fame member team owner will team with Clay Millican (Drummonds, Tenn.), the six-time IHRA Top Fuel World Champion to present Godman’s Top Fuel and Funny Car driver, Preston Davis (Barlett, Tenn.).
Don Garlits (Ocala, Fla.) founder/owner/curator of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing will present British Top Fuel and Funny Car legend Dennis Priddle (Yoevil, Somerset, United Kingdom).
Jack Beckman (Norco, Calif.), 2012 NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car World Champion will present early Funny Car standout Gas (Gaspar) Ronda (Palm Desert, Calif.).
Don Garlits and long-time nominating committee member, Harry Hibler (Tarzana, Calif.) will present the Founder’s Award to Rockingham Dragway owner, Steve Earwood (Rockingham, N.C.) for his life-long dedication to the sport.
The honorees are selected by a committee of veteran drag racing and performance industry figures. The selection committee consists of Steve Gibbs (Retired Vice President, NHRA), Harry Hibler (President, Zircon Corporation), Ted Jones (Masters Entertainment, Retired President, IHRA) and Greg Sharp (Curator, Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum). Don Garlits carries a tie-breaker vote for the selection committee if required.
Banquet tickets are available but are moving quickly. The Corporate Tables for 10 people are priced at $1000 per table. Individual seating tickets are available at $100 each. Corporate table sponsors receive table signage, program recognition, and other benefits.
The banquet is preceded by a cocktail reception which starts at 5:30 PM (Eastern). The banquet dinner will be served at 6:45 PM and the awards ceremony beginning at 8:00 PM, with veteran race announcer, Bob Frey again serving as Master of Ceremonies.
The event will be filmed by Masters Entertainment of Bristol, Tenn. for MAVTV, and will air between April and June 2016. The air date(s) and time(s) will be announced at a later date.
Additional information is available by calling or emailing Donna Garlits at: (352) 245-8661 or (877) 271-3278 toll-free, fax (352) 245-6895, email: donna@garlits.com
The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing is recognized as a 501(c)3 educational not-for-profit organization.
