Martin to be inducted into Texas Motor Sports HoF

FORT WORTH, Texas -- NASCAR driver Mark Martin and open-wheel star Jim McElreath have been selected as this year's inductees into the Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame and will be honored April 2 at The Speedway Club at Texas Motor Speedway.

In addition, Texas Motor Speedway and Happy Hill Farm Academy announced Wednesday that two-time defending Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. and Indy-car driver Arie Luyendyk also will be honored with special awards during the ceremony.

Martin

McElreath, a native of Arlington, Texas, was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2002. McElreath began his rise in racing as a 17-year-old youngster running modified stock cars at the famed Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite. His open-wheel career began in 1961 in USAC, where he made 170 career starts.

McElreath competed in his first Indianapolis 500 in 1962, finishing sixth. He would go on to record three top-five and six top-10 finishes in 15 starts in the Indianapolis 500. Through his illustrious career, McElreath competed in over 185 open-wheel events posting five victories, 48 top-five finishes and 22 podium finishes along with four poles. He also made four starts in the Cup Series.

McElreath competed in the 1964 Daytona 500 alongside open-wheel stars Johnny Rutherford, A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones. Upon retiring from racing in 1983, McElreath and his wife, Shirley, reside in Arlington, where he works on restoring vintage open- wheel race cars and land development projects.

Martin, a native of Batesville, Ark., is in his 26th season in the Cup Series. Martin, who earlier this season made his 700th career start, has been a four-time series runner-up (1990, '94, '98, 2002) and has earned 35 victories and 41 poles.

The Bruton Smith Legends Award, a lifetime achievement award given to a legendary figure in motorsports, will be presented to Luyendyk. Luyendyk is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner (1990, '97) and three-time Indy 500 pole winner.

Johnson will be honored as the Texas Motor Speedway Racer of the Year. His victory in last fall's Dickies 500 played a pivotal role in the Chase for the Cup. Johnson left Texas Motor Speedway as the point leader and would go on to capture his second consecutive series championship.

Hornish, now a Cup Series rookie after an illustrious IndyCar Series career, will be recognized with the Texas Motor Speedway Sportsmanship Award. Hornish's charitable contributions to Speedway Children's Charities -- Texas Chapter have not gone unnoticed.

The Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame ceremony benefits Happy Hill Farm Academy, located south of Granbury, Texas. The 500-acre working farm provides specialized services for children who need another start in life. Happy Hill Farm Academy serves children with a broad range of behavioral and academic issues sometimes a result of abuse and neglect.

The VIP reception prior to the awards ceremony begins at 6 p.m. CT in The Speedway Club at Texas Motor Speedway. The Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will follow at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.

Tickets are available by calling 1-866-463-8392 or by visiting www.happyhillfarm.org.