Nominations Accepted For WCS Hall of Fame Induction

Race track officials have announced that the 3rd Annual Federated Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Monday June 25, 2007 prior to the start of the Pete Jacobs Memorial racing activities that are part of the 25th Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek sanctioned by the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars. The third induction ceremony will take place the day before the track’s actual 42nd anniversary of the track’s opening on June 26, 1965.

“The Hall of Fame has been so well received and so popular, a real ‘feel-good’ concept and we’re looking forward to continuing it for many, many years to come, ” stated Ernie Coffman, owner & promoter of Federated Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway. “We hope to continue having the ceremony as part of our Ohio Sprint Speedweek show each year. Unfortunately last year it was rained out so we held it over our Labor Day weekend extravaganza. ”

“I agree with Ernie, the Hall of Fame has been a boon for the track just in terms of goodwill, ” added Chuck Griffith, general manager of Federated Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway. “The fans to say nothing of the teams have really gotten behind the whole concept of honoring those who came before and who helped build this race track over the decades. ”

“I am a big supporter of the Hall of Fame, ” continued Griffith. “I really like the idea that not only drivers are being recognized, but fans, engine builders, car owners and a cross section of people that have added so much to Wayne County Speedway history are being considered for this honor. My hopes are that some day we can construct a building at the speedway to showcase these individuals they way they should be honored. Wow! Take a look at the one in the WCS HOF already. What a great class of people! ”

The WCS Hall of Fame board currently consists of Don Danley, Carol Tope, Chuck Griffith, Ernie Coffman and Doc Lehman. More board members are expected to be added.

A look at the last two WCS Hall of Fame induction ceremonies:

WCS Hall Of Fame 2006 Inductees

Saturday September 1, 2006

A dozen prominent individuals that have spent years and decades participating at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH were recognized and honored on Saturday September 1 at the 2nd Annual Wayne County Speedway Hall of Fame ceremony. The induction ceremony was originally scheduled to be held on the 41st anniversary of the track’s opening on Monday June 26 but was rained out.

Honorees being inducted include drivers Blaine Aber, Jim Case, Jeff Drown, Marriann Jacobs, Dave Ledford, Wayne Maffett, Sr., and Brad Malcuit. Being inducted in the Fan category will be James Gentry, Sr. while the Car Owner category inductee will be Bob Mullens. Those named into the Staff category include Glen ‘Calhoun’ Davisson, Gary McKisson and Bob McGovern.

BLAINE ABER

Blaine Aber has raced at WCS during parts or all of five different decades and has accumulated a huge win count and three WCS Late Model championships. Aber also owns an additional five championships at two other tracks and spent time as a former regular on the STARS series. Aber continues to race at WCS today.

JIM CASE

Jim Case was a dominant Late Model driver during the 1960’s and early 1970’s and was a multiple feature winner each season and a two-time Late Model track champion and multiple winner of numerous WCS special invitationals.

JEFF DROWN

Jeff Drown started his racing career at WCS in the early 1970’s and over the next two decades-plus raced primarily in the Limited Late Model division (often called Chargers, Pro Stocks, etc…) and in the Late Models scoring numerous feature wins and dominant win streaks as well as two WCS championships.

MARRIANN JACOBS

Marriann Jacobs began racing in the ‘powder puff’ division in the early 1960’s before racing at Wayne County Speedway beginning in 1965 through her retirement at the end of 1973. During that span she was a leading winner in the division driving Late Models owned by Harry Kane and Jim Gentry, among others. In 1973 she won the only ‘powder puff’ championship contested at WCS. In 1970 she once won a feature on the same night as her husband, the late Ken Jacobs, who was inducted in the inaugural WCS Hall of Fame. She also worked at the track for a number of years and was a long time stockholder.

DAVE LEDFORD

Dave Ledford began racing at WCS in the early 1970’s and raced Limited Late Models (also known as Chargers, Pro Stocks, etc…) and Late Models for nearly 30 years. Along the way Ledford dominated the Limited Late Model division during the 70’s and early 80’s with four track championships, including the track championship during his rookie season and also set the record for most New Track Records and amassed a large amount of feature wins. Ledford also has multiple championships at another track.

WAYNE MAFFETT SR

The late Wayne Maffett, Sr., spent over 20 years racing at WCS and during the mid 1970’s and early 1980’s was a big winner in the Limited Late Model division with multiple mid-season championship victories and three track championships. Maffett, Sr., also won multiple track championships and invitational special events at numerous other tracks.

BRAD MALCUIT

Brad Malcuit started racing Late Models at WCS in the 1970’s and won his first championship in 1979 before winning three more championships during the 1980’s. Malcuit holds a large win record at WCS including multiple sanctioned wins with the All Star Circuit of Champions Late Model Series at WCS. Malcuit also spent many years as a track sponsor through his business.

BOB MCGOVERN

Bob McGovern spent over 30 years as a track official and was an original WCS staff member on June 26, 1965. Upon his retirement from WCS McGovern spent a number of years on the staff of the STARS & Renegade dirt racing series. McGovern was a long time stockholder and director at WCS.