The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2024 yesterday.
Eight individuals who dedicated their lives to the sport were recognized with the highest honor in Sprint Car racing. Among them were two of the winningest crew chiefs with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, a 27-time World of Outlaws Feature winner, USAC legends, and more.
Paul McMahan
Paul McMahan cut his teeth behind the wheel of a Sprint Car in California in the 1990s. Competing in the golden era of the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) against the likes of Brent Kaeding and Tim Green helped shape McMahan’s talents. Clyde Lamar gave McMahan an opportunity to prove himself aboard the iconic Tri-C Machine Sprint Car.
McMahan’s first World of Outlaws campaign came in 1997. Driving for both Dennis Roth and Gary Stanton, he competed for Rookie of the Year honors against Donny Schatz. His first Series win came in 2001 at Missouri State Fair Speedway driving Warren Johnson’s #U2. McMahan went on to collect 27 World of Outlaws triumphs in his career. He also became one of the most prolific qualifiers with 82 career Quick Times.
Ricky Warner
“Tricky” Ricky Warner has cemented himself as one of the brightest mechanical minds in Sprint Car racing history. The Carlisle, PA native got his first opportunity as a crew chief with Tyler Walker.
Linking with Donny Schatz led to one of the most potent pairings the sport has ever seen. Warner helped Schatz reach his first championship in 2006, and the duo went on to collect many more titles along with more than 200 Feature victories.
In his latest endeavors Warner helped elevate Rico Abreu’s team into one of the best in the nation. Abreu drove his #24 to 13 wins in 2023 including six with The Greatest Show on Dirt.
Gary “Deuce” Turrill
Like Warner, Gary “Deuce” Turrill has put himself in the highest echelon of Sprint Car mechanics. The Ohio native worked with many of the sport’s top drivers and teams during his career.
Among Turrill’s achievements is a 1983 Knoxville Nationals triumph on the wrenches with Sammy Swindell behind the wheel of Raymond Beadle’s car. He was crew chief on the Danny Peace #8D that Doug Wolfgang drove to a historic season in 1989 that included 26 World of Outlaws wins in 47 Feature starts. The following year Turrill called the shots on the Ray and Jay Williams #8 with Wolfgang driving, and the team finished runner-up in World of Outlaws points.
Roy Robbins
Roy Robbins will forever own the honor of being the first winner of Sprint Car racing’s most prestigious race. He topped the inaugural running of the Knoxville Nationals back in 1961.
The Knoxville Nationals title will go down as the highlight of his career, but it was one of many victories for Robbins as he won in various regions of the country during his time behind the wheel.
Tracy Hines
Tracy Hines is undoubtedly one of the best to ever compete with the United States Auto Club (USAC). The New Castle, IN native is one of only seven in the USAC Triple Crown Club via titles with Silver Crown (2000) Sprint Cars (2002), and Midgets (2015).
Only Hines and Bryan Clauson are within the top-10 on both the all-time USAC National Sprint Car and National Midget win lists. Hines’ 47 Sprint Car victories are the fourth most while his 35 Midget checkered flags rank eighth.
Jon Stanbrough
Another one of the best without a wing joining Hines in the Hall of Fame is Jon Stanbrough. The Hoosier was a dominant force in a wingless Sprint Car for more than two decades.
Stanbrough collected 35 USAC National Sprint Car wins (tied 14th most) during his career. He also nabbed a pair of prestigious Indiana Sprint Week titles (2006 & 2010).
Bill Holder
Bill Holder is one of two media members on the list of 2024 inductees. Holder penned stories for many renowned racing publications including Sprint Car & Midget Magazine and Open Wheel Magazine.
Holder’s canon of work also includes books on various parts of the sport of Sprint Car racing and covering the sport as a whole.
Mark “Bones” Bourcier
The other writer in the class of 2024 is Mark “Bones” Bourcier. Like Holder, Bourcier published work in a variety well-known publications.
Bourcier has also written biographies for many of the sport’s most influential figures including the recently published Sammy! 50+ Years of Winning, The Story of Sammy Swindell.
