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MISC: Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame Inducts Seven New Members for 2000

27 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame (NARHoF) inducted seven new members into the three-year-old organization, Jan. 8. The announcement was made at the Nebraska State Fair Park, in conjunction with the simulcast presentation of the Chili Bowl nationals from Tulsa, Okla.

Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame 2000 inductees:

Noel Bullock, North Platte - won the 1922 Pikes Peak Hillclimb, as well as many outlaw races in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and South Dakota from 1916 to 1925.

Bob Burdick, Omaha - won the 1961 Atlanta 500 NASCAR Grand National (Winston Cup) race. Bob also won many IMCA Stock Car races from 1955-59.

Jim Gessford, Hastings - built and owned many types of race cars, including Roadsters, Modifieds, Supermodifieds and Sprints from the late 1940s into the 1980s.

Joe Kosiske, Omaha - father of 1998 NARHoF inductee, Bob Kosiski, Joe was instrumental in providing Bob's winning cars from 1950 through 1960.

Bobby Parker, Omaha - one of the most versatile drivers to come out of the state. Bob won countless Midget races through the 1950s and '60s, and was the first point champion of Sunset Speedway in 1957.

Gordon Smiley, Omaha - was an accomplished road racer who started two Indianapolis 500s in 1980 and '81. Gordon was killed trying to qualify for the Indy 500 in 1982.

Les Vaughn, Omaha - was an owner of Midgets and Sprints in the 1940s and '50s who helped many drivers on the way to stardom. It was in Les' car that a young kid from Ft. Worth, Texas, named A.J. Foyt garnered his first Sprint Car victory in 1956.

Text provided by NARHoF

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.