2001 Nov_13 PR



	National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame announces
	plans, changes, additions for 2002
	By Doc Lehman
	DAYTON, Ohio (Nov. 13, 2001) - The National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame (NDLMHoF), which debuted to overwhelming success and acceptance in 2001 with the induction of the inaugural class of inductees, has seen administration directors busy organizing the 2002 nomination process and induction ceremony as well as implementing various marketing programs. The organization has also added to the administration and is currently implementing new marketing programs to promote and support the NDLMHoF.

	Nominating ballots for the 2002 class of the NDLMHoF will be sent out to the voting board after the first of the new year.

	“We have set a time period for getting the nominating ballots out for February or March to our voting board,” stated Bill Holder, Executive Director of the NDLMHoF. “We have 30 voters on the voting board consisting of media, sanctioning body heads, engine builders, car builders and for the first time, three drivers.”

	“The three drivers are three individuals who were elected into the previous Hall of Fame induction ceremony. They will be on the voting board.”

	Three major categories highlighted the first induction ceremony: Retired Drivers, Active Drivers & Lifetime Achievement. Something has been added, however, beginning next year.

	Administrators have added a new category for the 2002 induction, the Sportsman Award.

	“We have initiated the Sportsman Award which will make 16 people who will get into the Hall of Fame next year,” explained Holder. “For the Sportsman Award the criteria is someone who works with the media, sanctioning bodies, sponsors and someone who can be called upon in any situation to help out. And their popularity with the fans. And we have many in the sport who fall into that new category.”

	The 2002 NDLMHoF Induction Ceremony will take place in August 2002 at Florence Speedway during the annual North-South 100 race weekend.

	Holder also announced that Doc Lehman has been added to the administrative board of the NDLMHoF. Lehman, a voting member, is a former race track promoter, sanction official and currently an active member of the media. Lehman’s public relations company, Lehman Motorsports Services, will also be handling the public relations and publicity projects for the NDLMHoF. Lehman joins other returning administration members Holder, Gerald Newton, Susan Baurer Lee, Tim Lee and Eva Goes on the board.

	Holder also announced that a new website for the NDLMHoF is being developed and will be an offshoot of the Dirt America website. The site will be designed and maintained by Stacy Scheers of Dirt-Racers.com and material for the website will be generated by Baurer-Lee, Lee, Holder and Lehman. It will also feature photography from the sport’s top photographers. The site, currently under development, will be located at www.dirtamerica.com/ndlmhof. An official announcement of the website’s completion will be announced at a later date.

	The NDLMHoF is also searching out new sponsorship and support for the organization and the proposed permanent building that will house the NDLMHoF on the grounds of the Florence Speedway in Kentucky.

	Sponsors already signed on with the NDLMHoF for 2002 include Arizona Sports Shirts, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Dirt Late Model Magazine, Florence Speedway and DirtAmerica.com.

	Holder has implemented a marketing campaign to secure additional sponsorship support for the NDLMHoF permanent building that is being planned at Florence Speedway.

	“We notified a number of companies and individuals that have indicated an interest in helping with some support,” said Holder. “We figure it will cost about $100,000 to build this. And The King family, who own Florence Speedway, have been very gracious and generous in donating the land for the building which will house the memorabilia, race cars and other items.”

	“We’re working now to get a 501-C3 designation, which is a non-profit status, so companies and individuals can write off their contributions.”

	Holder’s main focus for fundraising is to get the NDLMHoF building constructed and operational within the next couple years.

	“The entire King family have just been unbelievable,” commented Holder. “Jerry King has just been terrific and a whirlwind of activity. We’re working with the government people down in that county and he is going to take on a lot of the work himself. And he, like the rest of us, wants to build a nice structure. We’re going to have a nice building and one that we in the sport can be proud of.”

	“It will be located right up against the fourth turn so there will be a great view. We are planning some second floor suites up there, which will be great, and hopefully we can rent a few of them out to sponsors. Sort of like a smaller version of Knoxville.”

	“So that is in the planning. And we probably won’t have this ready until sometime into 2003 if things go well.”

	Holder feels inductees and their families, race fans and industry participants will embrace the new building and show their support for the construction of the facility that will house memorabilia and other interesting items that will help preserve the history of the sport.

	“We want it to be big enough so we can move race cars in and out,” explained Holder. “Maybe have the World 100 winner’s car there on display for awhile each year. And other ones from other events.”

	“We’ll also have memorabilia from each of the drivers that are inducted. What I am working on now is to get a door panel from every driver that makes it into the Hall of Fame. If they don’t have an original door then we’ll have one painted for them. For example, Larry Moore said he would like to have a door from the #P1 car on display.

	“In addition, we’ll have an space so each driver will have a little area for their memorabilia. And we want to devote space for an injured driver’s fund as well.”

	Other plans and announcements concerning the NDLMHoF will be announced in the upcoming weeks and months.

	Any businesses or individuals who are interested in supporting the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame are urged to contact Holder by telephone (937) 233–0924 or via email at billholder@webtv.net.

NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL HALL OF FAME