MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 25, 2011) – Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) will team up with the NASCAR Hall of Fame at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) to celebrate Richie Evans’ upcoming induction as part of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2012. Dave Blaney will pilot the No. 36 Golden Corral/HOF/Richie Evans Chevrolet for the SYLVANIA 300 on Sunday, September 25th. TBR Development Driver Bobby Santos will drive a Richie Evans tribute No. 4 Mystic Missile Dodge for the New Hampshire 100 Whelen Modified Tour race on Saturday, September 24th.
Evans, who is recognized as the “king” of modified racing, captured nine NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championships in a 13-year span, which included eight consecutive championships from 1978-85. “The Rapid Roman” collected multiple track championships across the Northeast and hundreds of victories, including a 37-win season during a stretch of 60 modified races in 1979. Evans was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
Golden Corral and TBR will pay tribute to Evans by running an orange and light blue paint scheme modeled after the last modified Evans drove. Santos and the Mystic Missile Team will run a similar-themed modified on Saturday.
“Obviously one of my heroes growing up, beside my dad, was Richie,” explained TBR owner and past modified crew chief Tommy Baldwin. “Whenever we showed up to a racetrack, we knew that Richie was the guy to beat. I am honored and humbled to be involved with his well-deserved induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. I’m excited our team can once again run a paint scheme like Richie’s; it brings back great memories.”
Richie Evans will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. on Jan. 20, 2012. Tickets start at $40 and go on sale in September for the historic event. The Induction Ceremony is part of the recently announced NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, which also includes the NASCAR Preview 2012 fan event on Jan. 21. For details visit www.nascarhall.com and www.nascaracceleration2012.com.