Texas open-wheel racing icons A.J. Foyt Jr. and Johnny Rutherford, winners of a combined seven Indianapolis 500s, have been selected as inaugural inductees into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame at Texas Motor Speedway. Foyt, of Houston, and Rutherford, of Fort Worth, emerged as runaway choices for the Class of 2003, a five-member group selected by a panel of motorsports media from throughout the state. Racer/designer Carroll Shelby, recently retired IRL IndyCar Series star Gil de Ferran and NASCAR Craftsman Truck title contender Brendan Gaughan also will be honored at The Speedway Club on Jan. 27, 2004. Gaughan, of Las Vegas, will receive the Texas Motor Speedway Racer of the Year award as the individual who has been most successful at the track this season. Gaughan won both Truck Series races on the 1.5-mile quadoval in 2003, giving him a record run of four consecutive victories in Fort Worth. The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame will be located adjacent to The Speedway Club as a year-round attraction. Groundbreaking is scheduled for early next year. All proceeds from the hall will benefit Happy Hill Farm, a residential school in Granbury for at-risk children, in association with Speedway Children’s Charities. For information on the inaugural gala in January, call (866) 463-8392 (HOF-TEXAS).( Fort Worth Star Telegram )(11-6-2003) AND – Vote: The Hall is also conducting an online Fan Favorite poll at www.txmhof.com from TMS Racer of the Year candidates Ryan Newman, Gil de Ferran, Brendan Gaughan, Al Unser Jr. and Joe Nemechek. Fans can win T-shirts, hats or tickets to the Inaugural Gala just for voting.(11-7-2003)
