BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Famed promoters of America’s most prestigious street racing event, two race car builders and a pair of prominent racing families comprise the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s 2026 Heritage class.
The inductees are:
- Chris Evans, 2024 Trans Am West SGT and 2025 Trans Am West XGT champion and race car builder
- Dave Fuge, two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship crew chief and car builder
- Jim Michaelian, the late former president and CEO of Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
- John and David Philpott, the late John Philpott, a Stockton (California) 99 Speedway mechanic of the year, founded Philpott Racing in 1968. Son David is a two-time 99 Speedway NASCAR Late Model Sportsman champion and three-time crew chief champion with son Justin
- Chris Pook, founder of Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and famed American street course consultant
- The Stockman Family – the late Harry, a post-World War 2 open wheel champion; son Gary, driver, car owner, car builder, crew chief, and track promoter at San Bernardino, California’s Orange Show Speedway and grandson Danny, twice NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship crew chief and reigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship crew chief.
“In review of this year’s West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Heritage inductees, I can only think back about how fortunate I was to have engaged all of them,” said Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO, West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame. “I personally am very proud of each and every one and I look forward to greeting all of them and their families on October 1 in Las Vegas.”
Final-round voting by the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors began this month and continues through June 1. Five inductees (and ties, if necessary) will be chosen and announced during the June 26-28 NASCAR Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts and ARCA Menards Series West weekend at Sonoma Raceway. The 2026 Pioneers of Speed (pre- and post-World War 2 figures) will be announced in mid-June.
Inductions will be held on October 1 at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. The sixth Kickin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year by 51FIFTY will be announced during the festivities.
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame gala kicks off a weekend of speed at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West racing takes place at The Bullring short track on October 2, followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (October 3) and NASCAR Cup Series (Oct. 4) on the 1.5-mile track.
