Don Miller, the board chairman of the N.C. Auto Racing Hall of Fame, will be honored for his many years of devotion to motorsports. He is credited with his creative work in designing the NASCAR safety roof flaps as well as the carbon monoxide breathing filters for drivers. He also revolutionized the modern day racetrack souvenir trailer. Working with Roger Penske, Miller co-founded Penske Racing South, where he managed the team for 20 years. Miller and Penske brought Formula-1 level engineering to Penske Racing, setting the bar for others to follow. Miller retired as president of Penske Racing South. He is also the founder of the annual Stocks For Tots fundraiser, which has raised more than $1,000,000 for children’s charities. Today, Miller spends much of his time with continued charity work, restoring performance cars and overseeing the daily operation of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, which he along with area real estate developer Bob Ebert helped open in Mooresville in May of 1995. Miller will be inducted by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ryan Newman.
In what will again be a day of celebration, Miller will be accompanied by incoming classmate Richard Childress in being officially welcomed as this year’s N.C. Hall of Fame inductees. As part of the process, each will be featured during their respective acceptances that will also include the installing of permanent in-ground plaques along the facility’s two-block-long Walk of Fame located on Main Street in downtown Mooresville. NASCAR Sprint Cup car owner Richard Childress will also be honored with his Walk of Fame in-ground plaque during Wednesday’s ceremony. Childress will be inducted by NASCAR Technical Institute’s Dodson. Also as part of the afternoon affair, Rick Hendrick will receive the Jeff Byrd Award. Open to the public, the dedication of the Miller and Childress in-ground plaques and Jeff Byrd Award will be held Wednesday outside the Charles Mack Citizen Center on the Walk of Fame located at 215 N. Main Street in downtown Mooresville from 4-5 p.m. There will be an invitation-only VIP reception after the dedication inside the Charles Mack Citizen Center.(Mooresville Tribune)
