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World of Outlaws press release
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame has announced its class of 2026.
Nine individuals who dedicated themselves to the sport will receive the ultimate honor in Sprint Car racing as their name is enshrined outside Turn 2 at Knoxville Raceway. Among them are an innovator and human like no other, one of the best to ever turn a wrench, a renowned engine builder, and more.
Many of the inductees have close ties to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series over its 48 seasons of history.
Eloy Gutierrez
Few have impacted Sprint Car racing as much as Eloy Gutierrez. First, the native of New Mexico was an innovator that forever changed the sport. He, along with the help of B.D. Shaffer, created an electronic timing and scoring system and persuaded Ted Johnson and the World of Outlaws of its effectiveness. The result? That system is still utilized nearly three decades later. Whether fans are staying updated via live timing and scoring on their phone or watching the ticker on a broadcast, Eloy’s contributions are felt every day.
Second, Eloy left a positive mark on all he encountered. His kindness extended to everyone he met, and he met so many during his years of journeying across the country in his motorhome. It didn’t matter who you were. Eloy always had a polite conversation and a Klondike Bar in the freezer for his fellow lovers of dirt track racing.
Sadly, the world lost Eloy in 2024, but he left behind an immense legacy and will never be forgotten.
Jimmy Carr
Jimmy Carr began to carve out his path in Sprint Car racing, competing along the West Coast of the United States, just south of the border of his original home in British Columbia, Canada. Eventually, Carr hit the road with the World of Outlaws in 1991 and picked up Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year honors.
In the late 1990s, Carr began to turn more toward the mechanical side of the sport. He was the crew chief for Roth Motorsports when Danny Lasoski took the No. 83 to a Knoxville Nationals title in 1998. Carr and Lasoski were entrusted by Tony Stewart as “Smoke” formed a team to race with the World of Outlaws in 2001, and with Carr on the wrenches, Lasoski took Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing to a championship in their debut season. They also won the Knoxville Nationals again that year and went on to add two more together in 2003 and 2004.
Carr continued to operate in a major role at TSR for the next several years before a return to his West Coast roots in the 2020s. He teamed with Dominic Scelzi, and the pairing won several races and consecutive Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) championships in 2021 and 2022.
Allan Holland
Allan Holland fell in love with Sprint Car racing in his youth and constructed an avenue to share that love with others. The native of Pennsylvania created popular news outlet Hoseheads. For many years, Holland’s website has been a top destination for fans of the sport to stay up to date on its happenings coast to coast.
And it’s all possible thanks to Holland’s lifelong passion for the sport. Keeping informed on all things Sprint Car racing on every level is a sign of dedication alone. Finding a way to ensure others can also conveniently locate all notable news is an extraordinary act of care and generosity. You can still find Holland at many races throughout the year, enjoying and contributing to the sport he loves.
Bob Westphal
Engines are the heartbeat of motorsports, and Bob Westphal dedicated his life to building some of the best available. A childhood spent tinkering with the innerworkings of his parents’ lawnmower and other motorized machines ultimately led him to crafting drag racing engines in the 1970s.
The straight-line roots introduced Westphal to Raymond Beadle, who opted to have him supply powerplants for his Sprint Car wheeled by Sammy Swindell. The result was plenty of wins, including the 1983 Knoxville Nationals. In 1986, Westphal and Phil Ditmars created Wesmar Racing Engines. Wesmar motors have powered plenty of success, including a dozen American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) championships.
Jerry Stone
Jerry Stone’s career began in the 1960s in go karts before advancing to Supermodifieds and eventually finding his way into Sprint Cars in the 1970s. Stone built up his career in the Midwest, winning many National Championship Racing Association (NCRA) titles before heading east in 1985 to compete with the Pennsylvania Posse for several years.
Eventually, he returned to his roots and managed to collect a fifth NCRA championship in 1991. The following year, Stone got his one and only World of Outlaws win, holding off Kenny Jacobs and Sammy Swindell not too far from home at Tulsa Speedway.
Ed Iskenderian
Simply put, Ed Iskenderian is a hero among hot rodders. He loves fast cars and the technology and ingenuity required to find more speed. Eventually, Iskenderian’s mechanical mind birthed Isky Racing Cams in the 1940s, and they’re still going strong.
Iskenderian’s business supported the World of Outlaws for years, and several teams rely on Isky Cams today. He turned 104 in July.
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Three more will join the six above in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame:
Steve Chassey – a prolific United States Auto Club (USAC) competitor.
Jerry McClung – a native of Phoenix that dominated the historic Manzanita Speedway.
Bob Gregg – a west coast winner across decades in Sprint Cars, Supermodifieds, and Midgets.
