0JAN. 25 IN SPRINGFIELD, MO
Former NASCAR racers Harry Gant and Ed Negre (Nuh-GREE), an Ozarks native behind the late Dale Earnhardt's debut in the big leagues of stock-car racing, will be special guests at the 16th annual "Racers Reunion," set for the afternoon and evening of Jan. 25 at Springfield's Shrine Mosque.
The Saturday event on both levels of the Mosque includes inductions into the Ozarks auto-racing "Hall of Fame," which each year honors past drivers and others for their parts in the history of area racing. It's held by OARA, the Ozarks Area Racers Association.
Negre will be inducted along with former drivers Ron Hedden and the late Don Freeman, Springfield; Windy Williams, Ash Grove; and the late Tom "Bolivar" Brown, Bolivar. For other outstanding roles in stock-car racing, additional inductees include the late Paul Printy and the late Bill Crockett, Springfield; Jay Henson, also of Springfield; Charles Sharp, Fair Grove; and John Jolley, Humansville. Crockett's widow, Wilma, the founder of the annual reunions, also will be inducted. Their names will be added to a monument to racing at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield.
Top-point drivers for the 2002 racing season attending from nearby area speedways also will be recognized during a "Salute to Champions" ceremony. Tracks include Lebanon, Monett, Bolivar, Urbana, Wheatland and Springfield.
Among special-guest Harry Gant's racing accomplishments, the North Carolina driver was second in 1984 Winston Cup points and won the 1985 International Race of Champions. He earned the nickname "Mr. September" for winning four consecutive 1991 Winston Cup races and still has a large fan following.
Ed Negre, formerly of Monett and a well-known Ozarks race driver during the 1960s, owned the car Dale Earnhardt drove at the 1975 World 600 in Charlotte -- his first outing on NASCAR's big speedways. A scale model of the 1975 blue and yellow No. 8 Dodge Charger is now an Earnhardt racing collectible.
A NASCAR independent without major sponsorship, Negre finished 12th nationally in Winston Cup points (then called Grand National) in 1971 and is a member of the exclusive Union-Darlington Record Club for a 1978 speed record at the legendary Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. He now resides in Washington state.
Doors open at 4 p.m., and Hall of Fame and Salute to Champions ceremonies begin at 7. Autograph tables will be set up for fans to meet former Ozarks racers as well as present drivers. Throughout the day there will be a large display of current and vintage race cars and hundreds of historic racing photos as well as numerous vendor booths.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the event; ages 12 and under, $8. Light food and soft drinks are included, and they are available at the Shrine Mosque, Kaleidoscope and Greene County Freight and Food Sales, Springfield, and at Nelson's Sports in Springfield and Bolivar. Part of the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For further information, contact Mark Perry at (417) 886-3358.
Former NASCAR racers Harry Gant and Ed Negre (Nuh-GREE), an Ozarks native behind the late Dale Earnhardt's debut in the big leagues of stock-car racing, will be special guests at the 16th annual "Racers Reunion," set for the afternoon and evening of Jan. 25 at Springfield's Shrine Mosque.
The Saturday event on both levels of the Mosque includes inductions into the Ozarks auto-racing "Hall of Fame," which each year honors past drivers and others for their parts in the history of area racing. It's held by OARA, the Ozarks Area Racers Association.
Negre will be inducted along with former drivers Ron Hedden and the late Don Freeman, Springfield; Windy Williams, Ash Grove; and the late Tom "Bolivar" Brown, Bolivar. For other outstanding roles in stock-car racing, additional inductees include the late Paul Printy and the late Bill Crockett, Springfield; Jay Henson, also of Springfield; Charles Sharp, Fair Grove; and John Jolley, Humansville. Crockett's widow, Wilma, the founder of the annual reunions, also will be inducted. Their names will be added to a monument to racing at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield.
Top-point drivers for the 2002 racing season attending from nearby area speedways also will be recognized during a "Salute to Champions" ceremony. Tracks include Lebanon, Monett, Bolivar, Urbana, Wheatland and Springfield.
Among special-guest Harry Gant's racing accomplishments, the North Carolina driver was second in 1984 Winston Cup points and won the 1985 International Race of Champions. He earned the nickname "Mr. September" for winning four consecutive 1991 Winston Cup races and still has a large fan following.
Ed Negre, formerly of Monett and a well-known Ozarks race driver during the 1960s, owned the car Dale Earnhardt drove at the 1975 World 600 in Charlotte -- his first outing on NASCAR's big speedways. A scale model of the 1975 blue and yellow No. 8 Dodge Charger is now an Earnhardt racing collectible.
A NASCAR independent without major sponsorship, Negre finished 12th nationally in Winston Cup points (then called Grand National) in 1971 and is a member of the exclusive Union-Darlington Record Club for a 1978 speed record at the legendary Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. He now resides in Washington state.
Doors open at 4 p.m., and Hall of Fame and Salute to Champions ceremonies begin at 7. Autograph tables will be set up for fans to meet former Ozarks racers as well as present drivers. Throughout the day there will be a large display of current and vintage race cars and hundreds of historic racing photos as well as numerous vendor booths.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the event; ages 12 and under, $8. Light food and soft drinks are included, and they are available at the Shrine Mosque, Kaleidoscope and Greene County Freight and Food Sales, Springfield, and at Nelson's Sports in Springfield and Bolivar. Part of the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For further information, contact Mark Perry at (417) 886-3358.
