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Pre- and Post-Event Parties Planned
The stars will be out!Former and futureHall of Famers, drivers, car owners, media and family members will be introducing the Class of 2026 during the upcoming induction ceremonies at the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame.
The 34th annual induction program will take place Thursday, August 13 at 7 pm in the Hall of Fame Museum on the Weedsport Speedway campus in New York. The event is free and open to the public, with both pre- and post-program celebrations planned.
Each one of this year’s guest speakers has a special connection to an honoree.
Former DIRT-TV host and legendary Syracuse sportscaster Doug Logan covered Bob McCreadie’s acclaimed dirt Modified career long before Bob’s son Tim ever climbed into a car. And Logan was on the spot right at the second-generation driver’s start—from North Country small-block standout to the national spotlight in motorsports. Logan will put Tim’s many accomplishments and the McCreadie legacy into perspective when he introduces “T-Mac” at the August 13 ceremonies.
There’s a vast generational gap between drivers Mitch Gibbs and Alex Yankowski. Gibbs was “The Showstopper” for 40 years, the Southern Tier cyclone who tore up the NY tracks on both the DIRT and Outlaw circuits. Yankowski—christened “Kid Rocket”—is the 22-year-old current sensation on the scene, turning the old guard on their ears. Young Yankowski will be paying homage to a childhood hero—and his girlfriend’s grandfather—when he takes the mic to talk about Gibbs’ career and their connection.
Janelle Wilkins Sender, daughter of the late, great Bobby Wilkins, will reminisce about a childhood growing up in the grandstands, watching her dad dominate the winner’s circle in the state of Delaware. More importantly, she will describe the man as well as the driver that Wilkins was—and all the ways he showed his love for community, his fellow competitors and his family during his lifetime.
Superstar Stewart Friesen is the face of Halmar Racing but Hall of Fame driver Jimmy Horton played an integral part in laying the groundwork for car owner Chris Larsen’s operation. In the twilight of an illustrious career, Horton lent a level of maturity to younger teammate Friesen’s talents, helping to steer their efforts to the top tier. As Chris’ friend and former driver, Horton will offer a glimpse of the human being behind the Halmar banner as Larsen is recognized with the annual Gene DeWitt Car Owner Award.
When Rich Pratt Sr. hired crew chief John Sine in 2004, he was hoping Sine’s years of experience on the circuit would give his son a “leg up” on the competition. He did that and more, guiding Rich Jr. to 60 wins in both Crates and Modifieds and two Bridgeport Speedway titles over the next 14 years. The senior Pratt will speak about John’s positive influence as both a mechanic and a mentor, distinctly shaping his son’s success.
Hall of Fame driver Frank Cozze and Mike Perrotte—this year’s recipient of the Leonard J. Sammons Jr. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Auto Racing—go back a long, long way. Both were championship drivers; both assumed the promoter’s role to rescue their hometown race tracks. But don’t expect a solemn story about common experiences and shared goals when Frank gets up to talk about Mike. Cozze’s cutting humor and off-the-cuff commentary will take center stage as he gleefully spills the goods on his good friend.
Indeed, the entirety of driver Kenny Tremont’s lengthy Hall of Fame career was covered by Capital District journalist Ron Hedger—in the weekly trades, dailies and national publications. Tremont will touch on his one-on-one exchanges with the award-winning writer and his 50-year commitment to getting the story, as Hedger accepts the Andrew S. Fusco Award for Media Excellence.
Critically injured at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park in June 2015, racer Jamie Spalding is certain he wouldn’t be here today if not for the systematic response of longtime track EMT Terri Mohrman, our 2026 Outstanding Woman in Racing. Spalding will speak about that harrowing experience, and how Mohrman’s quick decisions and calculated care saved his life on that fateful day.
The 7 pm induction ceremonies will be preceded by a “Happy Hour” reception hosted by Weedsport Speedway from 5:30-6:45 pm, under a tent just outside the Museum. A complimentary array of finger foods will be served, along with iced tea, water and lemonade, courtesy of the track. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies, the party will move to Weedsport Speedway’s Portside Pub, where honorees and attendees can continue to socialize, have snacks and drinks, and enjoy video presentations from 9-11 pm.
The induction ceremonies preface the kickoff of DIRTcar’s four-night SummerFAST mini-series for the big-block Modifieds. The action begins Sunday, August 16, with Weedsport Speedway’s Hall of Fame 100 sponsored by Ryan Phelps Auto Sales and Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast. Tickets are available at weedsportspeedway.com.
For the 10th year, a special Hall of Fame commemorative program has been produced, featuring the history of the Museum and Hall of Fame, a complete list of all HoF drivers and award winners in the past 34 years, a rundown of past HoF race winners, as well as stories and photos of all 2026 honorees. All profits from sale of the $7.00 program book benefit the Museum.
