On September 30th, for the first time in almost a decade, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame will unveil a new exhibit.
The exhibit will highlight the accomplishments of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated on NASCAR’s fastest tracks. Between 2001 and 2004, there were sixteen races on superspeedways – eight at Talladega and eight at Daytona – and DEI won eleven of them. In twelve of those races DEI finished either first or second and in four of those races DEI finished first and second. From October 2001 to October 2004, DEI won five straight and six out of seven races at Talladega.
“It’s only fitting that we chose to feature Dale Earnhardt Incorporated to help us draw attention to the revitalization of the hall of fame. Our proximity to the Talladega Superspeedway, where the Earnhardt name was synonymous with winning, made it a natural,” stated IMHOF Executive Director Mike Raita.
Teresa Earnhardt who was co-founder and owner of DEI with her late husband Dale said, “We are very pleased to be a part of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame’s rebirth and are proud that they would honor Dale Earnhardt Incorporated in a state that has always supported the Earnhardt name.”
The exhibit will feature a 1998 Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Dale Earnhardt and loaned to the museum the night that Earnhardt was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. Also featured will be the 2002 Budweiser Monte Carlo that Dale Earnhardt Junior drove to victory at Talladega in the 2002 EA Sports 500 and a 2003 NAPA Auto Parts Monte Carlo that Michael Waltrip took the checkers with in the 2003 Daytona 500. “When you told me you were wanting to bring the hall of fame back to life, it touched my heart. I’m so happy I can be a part of the effort,” said Waltrip who will be attending the unveiling.
The new exhibit is another step in the revitalization of the hall of fame and museum. The IMHOF received a grant and installed new LED lighting in April, opened a modest museum store a year ago, is in the process of upgrading the HVAC system and is getting ready to launch the biggest fundraising campaign in IMHOF history.
The IMHOF and museum were opened in April of 1983. Admission to the museum is $12 for adults, $5 for children and special rates are available for members of the military, veterans, senior citizens and groups.