The Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame (NFSHOF) has revealed the 2023 inductees, which include David Sisco, Ellis Cook and Charles “Preacher” Hamilton (in the Past Era) as well as Alton Jones, Tom Roberts and Richard Petty (in the Present Era).

“This year’s inductees, past and present, represent some of the most important names in auto racing and all played an integral role in the hallowed history of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway,” says Scott Borchetta, Big Machine Chairman and NFSHOF Board Member, who announced this year’s class via social media. “Headlining this year’s induction ceremony is none other than The King, Richard Petty…and The King has every intention of attending! This is going to be an amazing night.”

The Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of auto stock car racing via on-the-track performance or meritorious service. The six honorees, selected first by fan submissions and ratified by a blue ribbon committee vote, will officially be inducted on Tuesday, Nov.14, beginning at 6 p.m. CT at the Nashville Fairgrounds Expo Center. This year’s class will bring the total inductees to 94 members.

2023 Inductee Bios:

Sisco, a native of Hohenwald, Tennessee, ventured to Nashville for the betterment of his career. He was the 1969 Nashville champion, which was the last year the half-mile asphalt track was in existence. Sisco claimed three wins at the Fairgrounds, then proceeded to compete for seven seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. He will join his brother, Jerry, as a NFSHOF  inductee.

A genuine race supporter and contributor to local racing, Cook owned the car of two-time Nashville Champion Darrell Waltrip. Cook brought in Buddy Baker and Bobby Isaac to compete on the local level for national events. George Bennett won multiple quarter-mile championship titles driving under the banner of Cook’s Pabst Blue Ribbon brand before moving to the 5/8th mile oval. The Fall City and Pabst beer brands were showcased at the speedway for many NASCAR National Championship events.

Dating back to the 1940s, an early pioneer of the sport, Preacher Hamilton was ahead of his time. He and his son Bud laid the groundwork for the future of auto racing in Middle Tennessee. Hamilton was the car owner and builder for the first championship car on asphalt driven by hall-of-famer Bob Reuther. In 1958, he took it one step further with sponsorship from country music legend and hall-of-famer Marty Robbins. Preacher and Bud Hamilton were both a part of Robbins’ career locally and nationally. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree as Preacher’s grandson, Bobby Hamilton Sr., laid claim to multiple championships at the Fairgrounds and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

When you think of Pleasant Grove, Alabama, in stock car racing, Jones is the first to come to mind. He competed on many Alabama short tracks, including Birmingham, Huntsville and Montgomery. Nashville Fairgrounds was always a track he enjoyed success. Jones was the 1976 Track Champion at the Fairgrounds, driving for the Butch Hawkersmith-owned team out of Winchester, Tennessee. The Crimson Dale Nursery name carried Jones to many wins at the Fairgrounds and one top five in the NASCAR Cup Series. Jones has 15 career wins at Nashville and thirteen career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Roberts assumed the duties of Assistant General Manager & Public Relations at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 1981 with responsibilities toward NASCAR weekly racing and two NASCAR Cup Series events each year. He was the key person who put All Pro Series’ Bob Harmon and ASA’s Rex Robbins together to form what we know today as the “All American 400” event at the Fairgrounds. Roberts left the Fairgrounds in 1984, and his career is like a rolling billboard of success with public relations for NASCAR teams of DiGard, Stavola Brother, Team Penske and Alan Kulwicki Racing.

Petty is the all-time winningest driver for the NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. He has nine wins, one more than Darrell Waltrip at the Fairgrounds. Petty and Waltrip are tied for pole positions with seven. In 1975, Petty partnered with Fairgrounds Speedway Founder Bill Donoho, Cale Yarborough and Mooney Lynn (husband of Loretta Lynn) to build a superspeedway near the Davidson and Rutherford County line. In keeping with tradition, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway was the only track in the nation that had a weekly NASCAR program and NASCAR Cup Series each year from from 1958 to 1984, as most only had two Cup events yearly.

Photo: Ryan Carignan

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix (BMMCGP) and Women in Motorsports North America recognized female motorsports industry members, and the men who support them, this weekend in Victory Circle.

Additionally, two scholarships were awarded to BMMCGP employees in memory of Dr. Rose Mattioli. A trailblazer for women and families in motorsports, the late Dr. Rose and her husband, Dr. Joseph “Doc” Mattioli, co-founded Pocono Raceway in 1968, a family-owned-and-operated business.

“It’s a privilege for us to be able to honor women trailblazers, like Dr. Rose Mattioli, with the creation of a scholarship for women in motorsports to this year’s Women with Drive III Summit this fall,” said Matt Crews, CEO of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. “Additionally, Rose’s son, Joe, was instrumental in starting what is now known as the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. So to honor his contribution and her legacy was important to us. As a father of a daughter who can look at a career in motorsports, it is really important that we raise awareness with prospects, and it goes back to pioneers like Dr. Rose who helped forge opportunities.”

Crews was joined by Big Machine Music City Grand Prix’s President & COO Jason Rittenberry and EVP Liz Allison along with Joe Mattioli and Cindy Sisson, Executive Director of Women in Motorsports North America, to present scholarships to two multi-year employees of Music City Grand Prix Molly Hayes and Sarah Wahlstrom. Hayes is the Client Services Manager, and Wahlstrom is the Operations Administration Manager. Hayes and Wahlstrom both started as interns for the organization.

“Rose was so special and cared about all families,” said Allison. “I know many of us really miss her, and she’s left quite the legacy. It’s really exciting for us to be able to send two women to the summit in Phoenix, and I’m thrilled to be standing here with Cindy Sisson and Jason Rittenberry today to be able to honor the winners and celebrate all women and the men who support us in motorsports today.”

Pictured (L-R): Matt Crews, Sarah Wahlstrom, Molly Hayes and Jason Rittenberry. Photo: Michael Levitt

As part of its commitment to supporting and enhancing opportunities for women across all motorsport disciplines, Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) created the Women with Drive Summit. Attendees include industry executives, drivers, team members, manufacturers, sponsors, race track representatives and anyone working in the sport or wanting to learn more. The inaugural summit was held during the BMMCGP weekend in Aug. 2021.

“My mother was constantly fighting for ‘Women’s Rights’ long before it was popular and won numerous awards for her efforts,” said Joe Mattioli. “While my dad was an incredible businessman, my mother taught me important life lessons about honesty, bravery, hard work, compassion, family values, not being afraid to fail, treating everyone with respect, and much more.”

Hayes and Wahlstrom will now have the opportunity to gather with industry leaders from across all forms of motorsports to discuss current issues and network during the two-day summit slated for Nov. 7-8 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona following the final NASCAR Cup Series race of the season.

“This is an amazing day, and I’m so happy for the recipients,” said Sisson. “It all started here, and I have to credit Matt. He called me before his inaugural race and told me to ‘think big’ because so few people promote women in motorsports, so we thought big and held our first conference here in Nashville two years ago. I’m very thankful that Matt and his team are honoring these women and partnering with our organization.”

Scott McLaughlin at the 2022 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Photo: Courtesy of the MCGP

For the second consecutive year, Scott McLaughlin, driver of the No. 3 Penske Chevrolet, has won the pole at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix with a 1:14.6 lap in the Firestone Fast 6.

McLaughlin’s pole win comes after nearly a four hour weather delay. This is the New Zealand native’s first pole of the season and Penske’s first street course pole of the season.

Following McLaughlin in the top six, are Pato O’Ward, Colton Herta, NTT IndyCar Series standings leader Alex Palou, David Malukas and Romain Grosjean. Nashville native Josef Newgarden will start ninth tomorrow behind 2022 IndyCar champion Will Power who will be starting seventh.

McLaughlin had a great race in Nashville in 2021, winning the pole and finishing second behind behind fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon. McLaughlin was short of the win by 0.1067.

McLaughlin currently sits in fifth place in the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series standings with 329 points. O’Ward is tied with the pole winner also with 329 points. 2021 BMMCGP winner Marcus Erisson sits in fourth place with 330 points but will be starting 20th. Dixon sits in third place with 357 points and will be starting 12th.

The third annual Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is set to start at 11:30 a.m. CT on Sunday (Aug. 6).