as Presenters for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 24th Annual Induction Ceremony, August 29, in Detroit
Johnson presenting Ricky Johnson, Prudhomme inducting Ed Pink, and Allison, enshrining Neil Bonnett, will be joined by Leonard Wood (Vic Edelbrock Sr.), Justin Bell (Derek Bell) and Dennis Reinbold (Pop Dreyer)
The list of motorsports stars set to usher in this years inductees into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, Wednesday, August 29, is as accomplished as the Class of 2012 itself with champion drivers Jimmie Johnson and Hall of Famers Don The Snake Prudhomme, Bobby Allison and more scheduled to be among the inductee presenters at the black-tie event at the Fillmore Theater in Detroit.
Johnson, the five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and last weekends Brickyard 400 winner, will present AMA Supercross and Motocross legend Ricky Johnson for induction in the Motorcycle category. Although unrelated, the two were competitors and remain close friends today from their youthful California off-road racing days that launched both to stardom.
Hall member Prudhomme (Class of 1991) is scheduled to present Ed Pink during induction ceremonies in the Drag Racing discipline. Pink supplied engines to The Snake during his most successful years as a dominant NHRA funny car driver.
Hall of Famer and NASCAR icon Allison (Class of 1992) will present for the second-consecutive year after having the honor of inducting his brother Donnie Allison in 2011. This year, Bobby Allison will enshrine fellow "Alabama Gang" member, the late Neil Bonnett, into the Halls stock car wing. Bonnett was one of the most affable drivers in NASCAR history, earning 18 series victories during his 18-year career.
Additional NASCAR legends scheduled to present include Leonard Wood, a Hall member enshrined with his brother Glen Wood in 2000 as the leaders of the famous Wood Brothers racing team and pit crew. Leonard Wood will induct the late Vic Edelbrock, Sr. in the At Large category. Edelbrock was considered one of the founders of the American hot rod movement and built a small auto repair shop into one of the world's premier parts suppliers for racers and auto hobbyists.
Inductee Derek Bell will have the honor of being presented to the Hall by his son and fellow Sports Car World Champion Justin Bell, who is also well known today as a television reporter on SPEED and host of The Worlds Fastest Car Show with Justin Bell on eBay Motors and eBay Mobile. Derek Bell earned his way into the Halls Sports Car wing on the strength of an amazing career that included five wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and three overall victories in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1986, 1987 and 1989.
Pop Dreyer will be enshrined in the Historic category by Dennis Reinbold, co-owner - with Detroit native and former IndyCar race winner Robbie Buhl - of the Panther Dreyer & Reinbold (Panther DRR) IndyCar team that helps keep the Dreyer legend alive today. Dreyers first name was Floyd but he was known as Pop and as one of the most resilient motorcycle competitors of all time. He also made his mark in auto racing as a Midget and Sprint Car builder who competed on dirt as well as on the famed board speedways of the teens and early 1920s.
The Class of 2012 also includes former Indy Car Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan who will have his presenter named in the coming days. Sullivan is best known for his Indy Car accomplishments but also raced in Formula 1, Can-Am and sports cars. His 17th and final Indy Car win came in 1993 on the Belle Isle road course, located just a few miles from the Fillmore in the heart of downtown Detroit.
Tickets for the 24th annual Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Wednesday, August 29, can be purchased by calling 248-349-RACE (7223) or at mshf.com. The evenings emcee will be former driver David Hobbs who is also now a popular reporter and host on SPEED and a 2009-inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in the Sports Car category.
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