West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame names its Class of 2024

Cobb, Holmes, Johnson, Vasser, Wells Set for Induction in June

Calvin (Cal) Wells III

Dick Cobb

Eric Holmes

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmy Vasser

 

Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, is among this year’s five inductees into the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame.

 

The El Cajon, Calif. competitor, winner of 83 NASCAR Cup Series events in 16 consecutive seasons and recent inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, will be joined for enshrinement by the late Dick Cobb, Las Vegas, Nev., winner of eight track championships over a 45-year racing career in Nevada and California; Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., winner of three NASCAR West (now ARCA Menards Series West) titles; Jimmy Vasser, Canoga Park, Calif., 10-time Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) winner, Indianapolis 500 co-owner champion and 2023 IMSA GTD championship co-owner; and Calvin (Cal) Wells III, NASCAR Cup Series race winning team owner, Off-Road Hall of Fame inductee and current chief executive officer of Legacy Motor Club.

 

The Class of 2024 – the hall’s 21st – will be enshrined Thursday, June 6, during the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s induction gala, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway, at Sonoma Raceway’s Turn 11 Club VIP/Hospitality complex encircling the road course’s iconic Turn 11.

 

“Our Class of 2024 is second to none in diversity of competition,” said Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. “Jimmie Johnson, Eric Holmes and Dick Cobb mastered three different levels of NASCAR competition. Jimmy Vasser, a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) champion and Cal Wells, an off-road racing Hall of Famer and team executive add two more racing disciplines to this year’s Class.

 

“We will be announcing our five Heritage inductees in a few weeks – selectees representing additional forms of competition.

 

“I am most excited about the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Pioneers of Speed initiative, providing us with the opportunity to honor those whose careers began and often ended before World War II. Many 21st Century fans may not recognize the names and achievements of these distinguished and courageous figures. All, however, deserve to be honored and remembered through our organization.

 

“We will be announcing the first 10 honorees later this spring.”

 

The event opens a packed weekend of racing at Sonoma Raceway, which includes the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR/ARCA Menards Series West and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

 

The organization also will induct its seventh Heritage class, comprised of individuals whose careers largely ended prior to 1971. The 2024 Heritage inductees will be named in March. Also to be named is the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Pioneers of Speed, whose careers preceded or spanned the World War II era.

 

Also featured will be the 4th Annual Kickin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year Award presented by 51FIFTY. This award recognizes an individual that has displayed a heart for giving back to others, through charitable giving or in-kind services to the industry. Previous honorees are Mike Curb, 2001 and the Sonoma Chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charity in 2022. Last year’s honorees are the foundations of 2023 West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick.

 

Televised highlights of the 2024 induction ceremonies will be broadcast later this summer; network, air dates and times to be announced.

 

 

source: West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame Media