Saturday
Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris to be Inducted into the 24th Annual Ozark Area Racer’s Reunion Hall of Fame
Press ReleaseAustin Dillon, Red Farmer and Bobby Allison Scheduled to Attend
“Johnny Morris has been a long time racing enthusiast and area racing supporter,” said Roger Wasson, President of Ozark Area Racers. “What started out on the dirt tracks of the Ozarks has brought the Ozark Area Racers group to the national stage with Johnny’s involvement in the top series of auto racing, the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Ozark Area Racers are very proud to induct this man into our Hall of Fame,” Wasson added.
Morris has many fond memories of attending the races on Friday nights at the Fairgrounds Speedway where some of the biggest names in racing first got their start. Drivers like Rusty and Kenny Wallace, Mark Martin, Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki are just a few.
Beginning with the first Bass Pro Shops sponsorship with Richard Childress of the #3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Monte Carlo driven by Dale Earnhardt in 1998, and continuing to the stellar 2010 season that saw Sprint Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray take the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400, for well over a decade Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops® have been involved with NASCAR®.
They have partnered with some of the biggest names in racing–Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing, Richard Childress, Tony Stewart, Jamie McMurray, Juan Montoya , Martin Truex Jr., Austin Dillon and Steve Kinser-all in an effort to help promote the great outdoors.
Morris will be inducted as a “Pioneer” along with Steve Long (Lebanon, Missouri) an expert machinist who is now located in the heart of racing working for TRD (Toyota Racing Development); Gerald Wilson (Bolivar, Missouri) who built cars for Larry Phillips, who became the only 5 time NASCAR short track Champion in history; and Mark Perry (Springfield, Missouri) who, as a kid watched his dad compete on the dusty tracks across the country on the IMCA circuit, then ran a family track for his parents later in life.
“Legend” inductees include drivers Steve Schahuber (Willard, Missouri), Rex McCroskey (Springfield, Missouri) Dave Williams (Pleasant Hope, Missouri) and Bill Frye (Greenbriar, Arkansas).
Vintage and new race cars, including the #1 Bass Pro Shops /Tracker Boats Chevrolet, the #3 Chevrolet Silverado Truck and the World of Outlaws
Bass Pro Shopscar driven by Steve Kinser and Tony Stewart
will be on display as well as hundreds of pictures and other race memorabilia, vendor booths, and area racetrack representatives.
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing has earned more than 190 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menard’s Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Development Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 RCR Development Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.
- Richard Childress Racing, Press Release
Article Tags: Austin Dillon, Bass Pro Shops, Bobby Allison, NASCAR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NCWTS, NNS, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado, RCR, Red Farmer, Richard Childress Racing
