6/12/2024
Knoxville Raceway
Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame Class of 2024!
The 2024 Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame inductees have been announced by our Hall of Fame Committee. Six individuals will be recognized for their contributions and accomplishments to Knoxville Raceway.
Those being inducted in this year’s class will be Tony Bokhoven, Mahala Cox, Don Droud Jr., Matt Moro, Bob Richardson and Doug Ripperger.
This year marks the 46th class of inductees. The Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame was established in 1979 and there are currently 229 inductees.
The annual induction banquet will be held on Saturday, July 6 at Noon in Dyer-Hudson Hall. This event is open to the public and tickets are $10 per person. To reserves seating please call the ticket office at 641-842-5431.
Tony Bokhoven (Announcer) Pella, IA
Tony grew up watching his father compete in drag racing and caught the racing fever. In 1996, he was asked to fill in as an announcer for a night, which led to a job offer from promoter Ralph Capitani shortly thereafter. As of 2024, Tony celebrates his 28th season as the announcer at the Sprint Car Capital of the World, making him the longest-serving announcer in the track's history. His career has taken him to multiple tracks across the United States and Australia, and he has been part of several television and radio crews for events nationwide. Throughout it all, Tony has remained "the voice" and a dedicated ambassador for his home track, Knoxville Raceway
Mahala Cox (Safety Crew) Knoxville, IA:
Mahala served on the safety crew for 31 seasons from 1976 to 2006. Initially, the crew wore shirts and jeans, but after her brother Pat was burned in a fire, she advocated for fire suits. At the time, state law required a doctor on site, so there was no dedicated ambulance. Mahala ensured the Knoxville Raceway got its first ambulance by getting the fire and safety crew EMT certified, eliminating the need for a doctor. By the early 1990s, Mahala led the fire and safety crews, recruiting her brother Mike and establishing training and certification standards. Mahala, whose primary job was the emergency coordinator for Marion County, retired from the Safety Crew at the end of the 2006 season.
Don Droud Jr. (Driver) Lincoln, NE:
Don has been a regular at Knoxville Raceway since 1984, achieving 12 feature wins and finishing second in 410 points four times (1997, 1998, 2001, 2010). He made history as the first driver to set a sub-15-second track record with a lap time of 14.934, a record that held for nearly seven years. His most notable Knoxville victory came in the 2001 1200-Pound Nationals with car owner Mark Burch, where he won $12,000 against a field of 97 cars. In 2006, he set the overall quick time at the Knoxville Nationals while driving for Daryl Saucier. Don started the Knoxville Nationals five times for five different car owners: Craig Cormack (1997, 1BK), Mark Burch (2000, 1m), Daryl Saucier (2006, 44), Marty Johnson (2007, 81), and Gil Sonner (2011, 47). Additionally, Don has been competitive in multiple midget series events at Knoxville.
Matt Moro (Driver/Owner) Polk City, IA:
Matt inherited his passion for racing from his father Tony. He is a two-time 360 Track Champion (2008 and 2017) with nine feature wins in the 360 Class and two in the 410 Class. Competing at Knoxville since 1996, Matt has finished in the points for 13 seasons in the 360 class and nine seasons in the 410 class. He has qualified for the 360 Knoxville Nationals A Main ten times, achieving two top-five finishes, including a runner-up position in 2000. Since becoming a car owner in 2021, he secured the 410 Track Championship with Davey Heskin in 2012, and in 2023, Davey qualified the car for the Knoxville Nationals A Main.
Bob “Buns” Richardson (Owner./Mechanic) Lincoln, NE:
During the 1970s, Bob’s 57 car frequently appeared at Knoxville, driven by Ed Bowes, Norman Martin, Doug Wolfgang, Lloyd Beckman, and Lonnie Jensen. As a mechanic, Bob secured four feature wins with Ray Lipsey—two in the 360 class and two in the 410 class—in 1987 and 1994. In 1996, he played a crucial role in Doug Wolfgang's comeback after his fire, leading to a win on a 360 Nationals prelim night. Bob also found significant success working on the #22 car for Stewart and Billy Alley. Their team won the 2003 360 Track Championship and achieved back-to-back victories at the 360 Knoxville Nationals in 2004 and 2005.
Doug Ripperger (Safety Crew) Knoxville, IA:
Doug served on the safety crew for 42 seasons from 1979 to 2020, significantly impacting safety at Knoxville Raceway. Known for his fearlessness, he would run toward crashes and fires to rescue drivers. He carries the burdens of those who lost their lives, which only fueled his passion for making cars safer. His quick decision-making and leadership improved the crew's effectiveness each year. Doug also helped develop equipment to address safety issues. His dedication and innovations have left a lasting legacy for sprint car racing.
Article Credit: PR - Eric Arnold
Submitted By: Eric Arnold
