THE 2022 IOWA HALL OF FAME AND RACING MUSEUM inductees included, front row (left to right): Judy Phelps, daughter of Bill Zwanziger; Robert Lawton; Les Wildin; Darrel DeFrance, son of Dale DeFrance; Bill Beckman; and David Wells. Back: Tim Nelson; Ken Walton; Orval Kinne; Joe Merryfield; Gary Crawford; Jim Wilson; Lyle Sylvester, son of Dean Sylvester; and Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum president Marty Pringle. (Submitted photo)

WEBSTER CITY — The Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum honored 20 new members in its 2022 induction class during a sold-out, capacity-crowd ceremony at Briggs Woods Conference Center this past weekend.

Bill Beckman, John Connolly, Dale DeFrance, Ron Jackson, Les Wildin, Gary Crawford, John Logue, Terry McCarl, Joe Merryfield, Ken Walton, Bill Zwanziger, Dean Sylvester, Robert Lawton, Jim Wilson, Justin Brayton, Orval Kinne, Tim Nelson, David Wells, Larry Sommerfelt and The Killen Family — John, Vern, Don and Tom — were recognized.

Beckman, Connolly, DeFrance, Jackson and Wildin were included in the pre-1970 driver’s category. Crawford, Logue, McCarl, Merryfield, Walton and Zwanziger were in the 1970-present group.

Sylvester (car builder), Lawton (promoter) and Wilson (promoter) also earned a spot. Brayton landed in the motorcycle class, with Kinne and Nelson in the figure 8 category.

Wells (drag racing) and Sommerfelt (IMCA modified class founder and general contributor to Iowa racing) were also included, as well as the Killen family in a new wing honoring families who have made a significant impact on the sport in the state.

The Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum is located at 603 Hayes Street in Otho. The nominations are annually funneled into the following sub-categories: pre-1970 (any); drivers 1970-present; owner/builder/car sponsor; promoter/official/media/event or series sponsor; motorcycle; figure 8; drag racing; and other (fan, crew team member, mechanic, boat racing, go-karts, etc.), as well as influential family.

Drivers 50 years of age and older may be retired from driving or actively racing on a regular basis. Drivers under 50 years of age must not have been actively racing on a regular basis for a minimum of five years.

A person may be nominated posthumously. Nominees will have made a strong impact on racing in Iowa to be considered.

Marty Pringle of Otho is the group’s president. Teresa and Dylan Huffman are board members.

The organization has been inducting Hall of Famers since 2018.

The Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum’s self-stated purpose is “(to honor) Iowa’s racing legends and preserving Iowa’s racing history for future generations.”

For more information, visit www.iowaracingmuseum.com or the Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum’s Facebook page.