“We’re very excited about this class of inductees,” said Hall of Fame
Board Chairman Ken Clapp. “In some cases these gentlemen are nearly
forgotten, so it’s great to reconnect with them and their families.”
As is the case with every class, the inductees are broken down into a
historic division (from 1930-1970) and a modern division (1971-today).
The 2012 West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame 2012 Class:
Modern:
-Butch Gilliland, the 1997 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion
and winner of 13 victories in the division. His then-crew chief, son
David Gilliland, currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
-Vic Kurten, a prominent Ford car owner during 1970s. With the late
Sonny Easley driving, Kurten’s car won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series
West’s first race at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway.
-Bill McAnally, a five-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series West owner
champion, former series driver and promoter at various West Coast tracks
including Roseville (Calif.) Speedway.
-Pat McElreath, crew chief for Hall of Fame member Herschel McGriff,
who won 12 races with McElreath in 1972. The two also paired for a
fifth-place finish in the 1973 Daytona 500.
Classic:
-The Justice brothers, whose fuel and lubrication additives have been
and continue to be used by competitors not only in stock cars but
throughout the industry. The company is a pioneer in contingency
sponsorship of racing teams.
-B.L Marchbanks, whose 1.4-mile Marchbanks Speedway near Hanford,
Calif. hosted a number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races whose winners
included Fireball Roberts. The track also staged several U.S. Auto Club
races under promotion of Hall of Fame member J.C. Agajanian won by A.J.
Foyt, Mario Andretti and Gordon Johncock.
-Bob Phillipi, a Northern California Lincoln-Mercury dealer, won in
the 1940s and 1950s. His drivers included Hall of Fame members Marvin
Burke, Ben Gregory and Johnny Soares.
-Fred Steinbroner, raced out of Los Angeles and won several races in
the pre-NASCAR days and once held the all-time track record on the wall
at Oakland Speedway driving a Lincoln.
The 2012 class will be inducted during a gala event June 21 at Napa Smith Brewery (NapaSmithBrewery.com)
in Napa Valley, Calif., during the NASCAR weekend at Infineon Raceway,
which showcases the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and the NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series.
During the press conference, Clapp also announced the appointment of
four new directors to the Hall. They are Blake Bechtel, Ralph Sheheen,
Bryan Sperber and Wayne Wells.
The Hall, which inducted its inaugural class in 2002, was founded in
2001. It memorializes significant contributors to the sport’s
development and history – including designers, engineers, mechanics,
drivers, racetrack owners, promoters, publicists and members of the
motorsports media.
For additional information about the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, please visit WestCoastStockCarHallofFame.com.
To obtain details about table sponsorship for the 2012 awards dinner,
contact Dusty Brandel, 818-842-7005 or 925-552-9887,
dusty.brandel@gmail.com.