Please submit any new Biographies by March 1, 2026 for consideration in 2026 either electronically in Word form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mail them to: MMSHoF,  C/O Dave DeHem, 28047 Maple Forest Blvd. E., Harrison Twp., Mi. 48045. 

Please refer to the Nominations page for instructions on Biography preperation and submittal. If not sure of whether a person has had a biography submitted for consideration please do not hestite to contact the MMSHoF to obtain an answer. 

 The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be on September 3, 2025 at Buddies Grille in Holt, Michigan at 6:45 PM. The meeting is open to the public although we would like to know ahead of time that you wish to attend. Food is available for purchase if you wish to come early and have supper.

  Rules for attending any of our meetings are that you are an observer only unless you have been placed on the agenda prior to the meeting and that confidentiality is a must and can not be violated.

  The ballots were tallied prior to the June meeting to select the Class of 2025. Those individuals are:

From the Other than Driver category, the Late Bill Younkin Sr. of Jackson Michigan has been selected for induction. Bill spent his years as a winning Car Owner, Crew Chief, and Mechanic for other drivers as well as his son, Bill Younkin Jr.

   Joining Bill in the other than Driver category is 23 year Board Member, Vice-President and Past President of the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club. 17 year Board Member and six term sitting President of the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame, Dave DeHem. Dave was also the PR Director and chaplain for the Michigan Legends Series from 2003- 2015.  

    Representing the Drag Racing category are Dwane Ong and Mike Pustelny.

    Dwane Ong made his bones as the driver of the “Pawnbroker” Top Fuel Dragster before switching to Top Fuel Funny Cars in 1971 and was the 1971 Rookie of the Year. Although generally not noted as such, Ong was in reality the first Top Fuel racer to make the mid-engine chassis work even before Don Garlits.

   Mike Pustelny, famed chassis builder and successful racer in the NHRA and IHRA drag racing sanctions. Mike has raced many different cars over the years and has been instrumental in the development of race cars for Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet.

      Representing the Other Motorsports category are the Late Lynn Hicks and Vic Skirmants.

Lynn Hicks comes to the Hall of Fame from his year in the Snowmobile racing world as a leading engineer and engine builder. Lynn Hicks could build anything from the engines to the exhaust systems on a racing snowmobile and set records with his drivers.

  Vic Skirmants came to Michigan in 1962 and after selling his 1957 MG bought a 1958 Porsche 356bwhich he has raced all over in SCCA Competition and SCCA Runoffs for many years as well as racing locally at the Waterford Hills Road Racing Track. Vic has raced with the Vintage Racing circuit from 1997 until retiring in 2010 competing at tracks such as Watkins Glen, Road America, Sebring, and many more. Skirmants raced locally until 2023 and he competed in his last race.

      In the Oval Track Historical Era, Albert”Mike” Luberda and the Late Larry Zimmerman will be representing those that started their career at least 50 years ago.

   Luberda got his start at the old Standish Speedway that his father raced at and the family helped build. With much success at Standish, “Mike” branched out and won races and championships at places like Whittemore, Raceland, and Standish. His last Feature Win was in 2022 at the age of 74.

  Larry Zimmerman started his racing career at Prairie River Race Track, winning his first championship in 1953. Larry would go on to dominate racing in the tri state area but was a fan favorite at the Butler Motor Speedway where he won 5 championships. Larry won multiple features at Angola, Prairie River, Manchester, and Avilla Speedways.

    In the Oval Track Modern Era, Steve Dorer and Dennis Strickland will be representing those drivers that started their career less than fifty years ago.

  Steve Dorer, son of 2006 Inductee Joe Dorer is 5 time Late Model champion at tracks in Michigan and Florida. Steve makes his home in Florida and travels during the summer to race in his native state of Michigan. A top racer in the CRA Jegs races as well as the prestigious Snowball Derby. Founded and created the Wheel Man Racing Series traveling sportsman series in Florida.

  Dennis Strickland started racing in the 1970’s and retired from full time competition in 2022. During those years He has been a standout at the Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways with 11 ARCA Late Model championships as well as winning the 2013 Glass City 200 at the Toledo Speedway..

     These individuals represent the "Class of 2025" and will be forever enshrined in the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame. Full biographies will be posted in the very near future.

   The Board of Directors also selected the following individuals to receive their special awards for 2025.

  The Late Suzanne Royce is being honored with the Hall’s most prestigious and highest award, The Lifetime Achievement Award. Royce spent many years as the ASN Chief Scrutineer for Formula 1 Racing in the United States beginning in 1985. Royce has honed her craft at venues all over the United States from Detroit to Indianapolis, to Austin Texas, to Miami and Sebring and many places in between.

   The Mick Shuler Media Award is going to the Late Howard Williams. Williams was a standout announcer for many years at the Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways as well as the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA)

   Receiving the Dick Beebe, Behind the Scenes, Contribution to Motorsports is Barbara Benson, Daughter of John and Judy Benson and sister of Johnny Benson Jr.  Barbara was instrumental over the years of heading up Brother Johnny’s fan club as well as organizing events to support Johnny’s local career that lead up to his success in the American Speed Association as well as The NASCAR Xfinity and Cup series’.  Both Barb’s Father John Benson (Johnny) and Brother Johnny Benson Jr. are inductees to the MMSHoF.

   These three individuals will be honored at the 41^st Annual Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner on November 2, 2025 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan at the University Comfort Inn. 

       Since our Banquet and Induction Ceremony in November 2024 we have lost 1999 Inductee Duane Knoll, 2001 Inductee Maynard Rupp Jr.,  2022 Inductee Jay Reinbold, 2018 Inductee Ron Mancini, 2018 Inductee Traft Abbott, 1995 Inductee Mike Eddy, 2021 Inductee Angelo Giampetroni, and 2003 Inductee Steve Sauve. Prayers and condolences to these families on their losses.

    Our museum at the Corrigan Oil Speedway is coming along nicely and is a work in progress. We intend to have it open during race day events and are working on our schedule to make that happen.

   Our display at the Birch Run Speedway and Event Center is open whenever the Gas Alley Bar and Grille is open. Andy Suski, with the help of Past Inductee Dana Wiltse and Gus Englehardt and staff have installed the largest display of racing die cast cars I have ever seen. It stretches from one end of the Bar and Grille to the other and is at least 6 rows high and covered in glass. Birch Run has also invited the Hall of Fame to increase our display area as well. This too is a work in progress as we sift through our artifacts.

  While we are grateful to have the partnership with these two race tracks, we also need to be able to provide materials and artifacts for display. We are in need of those items that our past inductees might be willing to loan to the Hall of Fame for display. Uniforms, pictures, trophies, helmets, race car parts, and the like will be perfect for display. If interested please contact the President of the Hall, Dave DeHem.