UPDATE: The New Inductees for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2001 were announced Wednesday, October 25, 2000 in Birmingham. The choice was very tough: choose from a list of 23 potential candidates, great men who have taken their place in the hearts and minds of motorsports fans around the world. Here are the four men who will form the Class of 2001…Neil Bonnett; Jimmy Bryan; Mike Hailwood; and Fred Offenhauser(Hall of Fame Site)(10-26-2000)
Hall of Fame UPDATE: The International Motorsports Hall of Fame, located on the grounds of Talladega Superspeedway, will induct four new members tomorrow night with a ceremony that will be televised by Speedvision. Neil Bonnett heads the class. Bonnett made his mark in NASCAR as both a driver and a television color commentator before he was killed in a practice-lap crash in 1994. He will be inducted along with Indy 500 winner Jimmy Bryan, noted Indy Car engine builder Fred Offenhauser and nine-time motorcycle world champion Mike Hailwood. Dale Earnhardt, who spent many of his off-track days hunting and fishing with his close buddy Bonnett, will be posthumously honored with the Governor’s Award by Gov. Don Sigelman of Alabama. Defending Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte, the organization’s 2000 driver of the year, will also be honored(Philadelphia Inquirer)(4-18-2001)
UPDATE: Neil Bonnett was one of four people inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on Thursday, joining motorcycle and Formula One racer Mike Hailwood, sprint car champion and Indy 500 winner Jimmy Bryan and engine builder Fred Offenhauser. All four were honored posthumously. Bonnett was a member of the famed Alabama Gang along with Bobby and Donnie Allison and Red Farmer(That’s Racin’)(4-19-2001)