2007's GREENSBORO DRAG EXPO held at the Greensboro Colisuem was the place to share the experience of induction with the 2007 Inductees...
Don Carlton
Danny Johnson
Alan Starr
Ronnie Sox
Buddy Martin
They were honored as our first official inductees into the newly developed North Carolina Drag Racing Hall Of Fame!
Frank Spittle presented the honor to Wanda Johnson who accepted the beautiful Hayes Jewelers acrylic award for her late husband.
Don Carlton was a top NHRA/IHRA Pro Stock driver and innovator in the early '70's, making the "Mopar Missile" and 'Motown Missile" names famous. He was ahead of his time having the first on board computer in car. Don was tragically killed in 1977 testing.
Inducting Don Carlton was good friend Satch Gregg and accepting was son Donnie Carlton.
Alan Starr local Top Fuel campaigner who made the "Starrliner" name famous in the '60's and '70's, was inducted in the Hall of Fame. Starr was another early pioneer in the world of fuel drag racing. Starting with the Sling Shot Dragster and moving up thru the ranks of contenders in the '70's with the now rear engine Top Fuel Dragster. The "Starrliner" team won on the IHRA and NHRA curcuit before retiring in the early '80's. Starr was tragically killed while working in his shop on the alcohol funny car of Larry McBride.
Alan's son Michael inducted his dad in the hall and accepting was his mom Jo Starr.
Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin a legendary team that help to pave the road of what we know today as modern day Pro Stock. The Sox and Martin team started in the early '60's with Chevy's and then moved on to the factory Mercury team by the middle '60's. They then teamed up with factory Mopar, campaigning their familiar red, white and blue Plymouth in the very first NHRA Pro Stock wars. The Sox and Martin team went on to win countless championships, national events and match race wins until the late '70's. Even after those years Ronnie continued to race whether it was Pro stock or Pro Mod, the team even had a come back, racing NHRA Pro Stock truck. We lost Ronnie in '06 due to cancer and his wife Diane carries on the "Boss" name raising monies for the Ronnie Sox foundation for St. Jude's Hospital.
Inducting the team into the Hall of Fame was former S&M driver Herb McCandless Sr. Herb presented the honor to Ronnie's wife Diane and Buddy Martin. Martin, our only living inductee, who gave a great acceptance speech reminiscing on the days of old and new.
