Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame Inductions this Saturday!
Monday, June 18, 2018
by Eric Arnold, Track Historian
The Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame Class of 2018 inductees have been announced by our Hall of Fame Committee! Those being inducted at our ceremonies to be held on June 23 will be Roger Arndt, Bob Brooks, Larry Cahill, the Chadd family consisting of Noel, Dean and Mike Chadd, Mike Fisher and Terry McCarl.
This year marks the 40th class of inductees. The Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame was established in 1979 and there are currently 192 inductees. The annual induction banquet will be held at Noon, Saturday June 23rd, in Dyer-Hudson for all current Hall of Fame members and guests with a picnic style lunch served at a cost of $5 per person. Call the ticket office to order tickets at 641-842-5431!
Roger Arndt (Media) Des Moines, Iowa:
Arndt becomes the first inductee from the Media category. Roger has over 50 years of contribution to covering racing at Knoxville Raceway. He began taking pictures in the late 1960's and then switched to video in 1983 which he still does today. He is also an artist whose prints from various Knoxville Nationals are hanging up in the homes of sprint car fans all over the country.
Bob Brooks (Mechanic) Knoxville, Iowa:
Brooks began working on sprint cars in 1972 with Slim Gutknecht and has been involved with various race teams for 46 seasons at Knoxville Raceway. He has worked with a long list of drivers such as Eddie Leavitt, Ralph Blackett, Mike Brooks, Tim Green, Sonny Smyser, Skip Jackson, Craig Dollansky, Don Droud Jr., Travis Cram, and Jesse Hocket . In 1977 he brought his cousins, the Jordan Brothers (Rodney, Roger, Gary), into the sport and he now joins them in Knoxville Raceway’s Hall of Fame.
Larry Cahill (Car Owner) North Liberty, Iowa:
Cahill was first involved in racing around the Cedar Rapids area at Hawkeye Downs in the 1960's. His team won the 1971 Knoxville Nationals with driver Jan Opperman. Other drivers over the years were Randy Smith, Jerry Richert Jr., Kevin Doty, Brooke Tatnell, Ryan Jamison, Dennis Moore Jr. and Larry Pinegar II. In his career he has also fielded other open wheel teams that would include Midgets, Silver Crown, and teams in the Indianapolis 500 four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002).
Chadd Family (Owner/Drivers) Lincoln, Nebraska:
Noel Chadd brought his sons Dean and Mike to Knoxville Raceway and dominated the 1980's in the 360 class. Dean Chadd racked up 18 wins and was the 1985 360 Track Champion. His younger brother Mike Chadd won 10 features and was the 1987 Track Champion. Noel was inducted into the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame in 2016.
Mike Fisher (Track Official) Knoxville, Iowa:
Mike has 51 seasons of service working at Knoxville Raceway. He began as a teenager mowing the grounds and working in the concession stand. He graduated to infield announcer and line-up coordinator in 1979 and still holds that position today. Mike has been operating the Skate Pit skating rink in the off-season for decades and helps with numerous tasks on the grounds.
Terry McCarl (Driver) Altoona, Iowa:
One of the most successful drivers in Knoxville Raceway history, McCarl has accumulated 7 track championships, 58-410 wins, 7-360 wins which include 4 wins in the 360 Nationals and 21 starts in the Knoxville Nationals with a best finish of third. He has 13 wins with the World of Outlaws and over 300 wins total in 21 states and Australia. Terry joins his father Lenard in the Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame.
|