Ozarks Area Racers Foundation

We lost another racing legend Don Marsh his love of the sport made our sport of auto racing a much richer and more enjoyable sport RIP Don thank you for the great memories

Please Everyone, Jimmy needs our prayers!

Ozark Area Racers Foundation would like to thank Jerry Hoffman and Springfield Raceway for their support and allowing us to do a 50/50 drawing during last weekends MLRA event. The drawing raised $480.00 for the foundation and congratulations to our drawing winner! Thank you to the Foundation members that spent their Saturday conducting the drawing and handing out Hall of Fame and Scholarship Applications.

We will be attending all area race tracks that are supporting the Ozark Area Racers Foundation this summer, we will have a schedule put together soon and look forward to meeting race fans and future hall of fame members!

Ozark Area Racers Foundation will be at Springfield Raceway Saturday March 14th doing the 50/50 drawing and passing out Hall of Fame Nomination Forms along with Scholarship Forms. Hope to see everyone there to support local racing and help us honor our hero's and supporters of the past and looking forward to seeing our future inductee's!

Join us as we honor the 2026 class for the 38th annual Ozarks Area Racers Foundation Hall of Fame, with the ceremonies scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E-Plex.
Inductees are selected in two categories: Legends (for driving accomplishments) and Pioneers (off-track contributions such as car owners, mechanics, sponsors or media members).
LEGENDS
Brian Brown. The Lebanon native raced for 30 years on asphalt and dirt, competing in seven states with eight track championships and more than 100 feature wins at various speedways in the region including Lebanon I-44 Speedway and Historic Bolivar Speedway.
Terry Deatherage. From Wichita, Kansas, he completed in the USAC Stock Car Series, ASA, World of Outlaws Late Model Series and NCRA Racing Series Late Models with three first-place points finishes He ran on paved and dirt ovals.
Eric Turner. Driving most every division over a 30-season career, Turner won more than 200 races in Open Late Models, Factory Stocks and Modifieds at tracks including Lucas Oil Speedway. From Hermitage, Turner recently retired from racing.
Alan Vaughn. One of the all-time greats in the MLRA • Midwest Latemodel Racing Association the Belton resident won the 1985 MLRA championship and was a regular contender on the circuit throughout his career.
PIONEERS
Russell Baker. The founder of Baker Racing Engine in Miami, Okla., Baker was a self-taught machinist. He began building engines at 18 and built motors for Bill Frye, Billy Moyer, Wendell Wallace and Dale McDowel, among others.
Donnie Kratzberg. Based in Fort Smith, Ark., Kratzberg founded Southwest Speed in 1975, one of the Midwest’s largest suppliers of auto performance parts.
Gene Morton. The Springfield native raced go-karts while also working with the MLRA in various roles. Morton helped his son JC Morton in his successful racing career. Gene passed away in early 2025.
Melanie Wynn. The long- time racing photographer at several Ozarks tracks, Wynn has been taking pictures for over 15 years and lives in Hartville, Missouri.
In addition to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, racing memorabilia and race cars from different eras will be on display inside the E-Plex. Promoters from area speedways also will be invited to introduce their track champions and from the 2025 season in a “Salute to Champions” prior to the Hall of Fame program.
The 2025 class will bring the total number of Ozarks Area Racers Foundation Hall of Famers to 249.
Tickets are $15 in advance and will be available at area O'Reilly Auto Parts locations beginning in early January. Admission will be $20 at the door. Ages 12 and under are free. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. with an autograph session for the inductees from 3:30-4:15 p.m. The formal program begins at 5 p.m.
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