The committee and advisors at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame are pleased to announce the 2024 inductees to the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame to officially be inducted Wednesday, November 6th, 2024 at The Fairgrounds Nashville Expo Center. Tickets, tables, and sponsorships can be purchased here. Early bird single ticket pricing starts at $50 and is available now through August 26th. Tables of 8 guests start at $480.
After revealing the top 12 Hall of Fame nominees during the August 10th race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, the final six inductees were announced Monday, August 19th on 102.5 The Game FM, as well as Bubba's 'Bout Broke Podcast.
Representing the Past Era, the inductees are DENNIS & KENNETH WISER, GLORIA KAYLOR, and JOE CALDWELL. Representing the Present Era, the inductees are BOB MCCRAKEN, JOHNNY THONI, and MIKE REYNOLDS. The inclusion of the Class of 2024 will bring the total to 100 members of the stellar group.
DENNIS & KENNETH WISER - A father-son team whose success as drivers and car owners spanned two decades, with Dennis also being one of the original members of the "Kiddie Corp", which included Mike Alexander, P.B. Crowell Ill, Sterling Marlin, and Wiser. These four were the most popular and winning combination of drivers in 1976 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
GLORIA KAYLOR - One of the first women to venture into the sport in Middle Tennessee, came from a racing family and had great success racing against women and against men at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Smyrna Raceway and Highland Rim Speedway She raced and won on both dirt and paved tracks. Kaylor, also known as Lyn, is the sister of two well-known local racers, Phil and Rod Stillings.
JOE CALDWELL - A long-time racing writer for the Nashville Banner, Nashville's afternoon newspaper. Caldwell's beat included the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway as well as traveling across the country reporting on NASCAR races. He was well respected by local racers as well as racers in the upper echelons of racing on the national scene.
BOB MCCRAKEN - A sponsor through his Town and Country Ford dealership in Madison, McCracken has sponsored more drivers to more titles on the quarter-mile and big track than any other in Nashville history. His 40-year commitment to the track has also included NASCAR regional and national titles, and Town and Country Ford is currently sponsoring Pro Late Model Driver Bennie Hamlet, Limited Late Model Driver Peyton Hamlett, and Legends driver Gavon Veach, among others.
JOHNNY THONI - From a long line of racing family, Thoni was known as the King of the Mini Modifieds. From victories on the big track to three championships on the quarter mile, Thoni's John Deere Yellow #53 was always a threat to win.
MIKE REYNOLDS - A driver whose career also covered championships on both tracks, including Limited, Trucks, and a 1991 Late Model title. Reynolds also captured a NASCAR regional championship. Reynolds was known for his hard-charging style of racing. He was one of the drivers to beat in the late 1980's and 1990's.
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame Board of Directors: Donnie Redd, Gary Neal, Crissie Jackson, Melissa Smithson, Al Jones, Ricky Haynes, Terrell Davis, Bob Sargent, Scott Borchetta; Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame Advisor: Joe Williams
-Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Release
-Photo credit: Will Bellamy, Racing America
