PRODUCTS & PRESS
NORTH CAROLINA DRAG RACING HALL OF FAME HONORS 2017 INDUCTEES
A large contingent of current and former racers , fans and supporters recently gathered to honor the 2017 inductees to the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame . Held in Mooresville , NC , the ceremony paid tribute to drag racers who made significant contributions to the sport during their careers .
The weather could not have been better as the temperature was in the 70s with blue skies . The only thing missing was “ The King ”, Richard Petty . Petty had previous responsibilities that revolved around an event you may have heard of called the Daytona 500 . With North Carolina ’ s own Smithfield Foods as the Petty team ’ s sponsor , his absence was certainly understandable . He will be recognized in October during the Walk of Fame ceremony in Mooresville during the week of the fall NASCAR race in Charlotte .
Other inductees included Terry Adams , Jean Howard and Frank Teague . Journalist Thomas Pope was awarded the Jeff Byrd Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award and David Bishop was recognized with the Pioneer Award . A special Lifetime Achievement Award was given to a very special guest , Miss Linda Vaughn , “ Miss Hurst Golden Shifter ”.
Most of us are familiar with the 1965 NASCAR season that saw Chrysler boycott the series . Petty and and his Chrysler-backed team built a very special match-race Barracuda for drag racing . The season was successful with a national event victory in Bristol , Tennessee , but was marred by an accident in Georgia in a match race with Arnie “ The Farmer ” Beswick . Petty returned to NASCAR in 1966 , and the rest , as they say , is history .
Terry Adams had a very successful career as one of the original Pro Stock drivers during the 1980s , then moved on to the NHRA as a championshipwinning Pro Stock crew chief . Adams will again be involved in drag racing as he will participate in the upcoming Nostalgia Pro Stock circuit with a replica of the “ Party Time ” Pro Stock Pontiac .
Frank Teague was the ultimate sportsman racer and was one of the very first points champions in what is now Top Sportsman . Teague participates today in the 4.70 events as time allows , and
will also participate in the Nostalgia Pro Stock circuit in a Darrell Alderman replica car , again sponsored by Koffel ’ s Place .
Jean Howard started her career in 1974 in her favorite car , a 1969 Z-28 Camaro , and won an IHRA event during an event held on the backstretch of the Charlotte Motor Speedway . Today , she ’ s in the process of restoring a ’ 69 Camaro that will have an automatic transmission replacing the 4-speed that she was so successful with during her career . Howard named one of her all-time favorite foes as Roy Johnson , father of past NHRA Pro Stock champion Allen Johnson .
Thomas Pope started his career in the late 70s , as did yours truly , and was given the assignment of covering one of the very first events at the nowlegendary Rockingham Dragway . Pope said , “ The sounds and the smell immediately drew me in , and I am still hooked to this day .” Pope is the Sports editor for the Fayetteville Observer , the only job he has ever had . His coverage of drag racing is the absolute best in a state whose newspapers very seldom or never recognize our sport .
Lifelong friend and fellow photographer David Bishop was recognized at Del Mar last year for 50 years in our sport , but on this day , we named Bishop a “ pioneer ” in drag racing , both in North Carolina and his home state of Maryland . He started his photo operation , Competition Photos , Ltd ., in North Carolina in the late 70s . Bishop later was the driving force behind the successful running of the Oak Hollow Boat Drags in High Point , North Carolina , in which he and his fellow JayCees held one of the most successful fundraising events in JayCee history . Upon moving back to his native Maryland , Bishop started a very successful partnership in a couple of drag cars with Tom Mullins . It was when East Coast Drag News was launched that Bishop ’ s editorial prowess became evident . The magazine is now an online entity , as are many . Through it all , Bishop has never strayed from his loyalty to the sportsman racer , probably coming from his beginnings in the Jr . Stock group , tutored by the one and only Bill Jenkins .
Please remember to mark your calendar for the Walk of Fame event in October in Mooresville , North Carolina , that supports Don Miller ’ s NC Auto Racing Hall of Fame . - GREG BURROW
64 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 118