Superior Speedway
2003 Hall of Fame Inductees

One of the original members who started the Tri-State Racing Association in 1962.  Vern became treasurer and later held the offices of Business Manager and President for a number of years.  He was the second recipient of the Russ Laursen traveling trophy.  Vern retired in the late 1970's and has been a faithful racing fan since.

Bob Root #37 - Active Driver

Bob is our 2003 Inductee in the Active Driver category.  Bob started racing in 1965 at the ABC Raceway in Ashland and added Superior to his race schedule in 1967, running in the Stock Class prior to running a Late Model.  Bob took a few years off from racing in the mid 1980s to concentrate on running his trucking business.  In 1987, Bob returned to racing at Superior in the modified class.

Past Championships:
ABC Raceway - 1966, 73, 76, 79, and 1983 in the Stock and Late Model classes.  Tri State - 1967 (Stock).  Proctor - 1973 (Late Model)  Gogebic - 1981 (Late Model).  NWRC - 1973, 76, 79 (Late Model).  Silver 1000 - 1995 Modified Champion.  Also, Bob has many feature wins at Superior that he cannot account for.

Jim Bartley #80 - Pioneer

Jim last raced the 1970 Russ Laursen benefit and placed second in that event.  One of Jim's most memorable moments was leading  Russ Laursen at the fair races until two laps to go when Jim broke a spindle.

Jim ran a Sportsman class car from 1962 - 1964 and amassed four feature wins.  From 1964 to 1970, Jim ran a Late Model and earned "Rookie of the Year" honors in 1964.  In 1966 and 1968, Jim finished third and second in points, respectively.

Lauren Johnson #39 - Pioneer

Lauren started racing at age 39, prompting Lauren to select that number for his car.  Lauren raced at Superior from 1965 through 1972 and was a charter member of the Tri-State Racing association.  During the 1965 and 1966 racing season, Lauren ran a 1937 Chev Coupe with a 261" engine.

Accomplishments:
1968 - Stock Class Representative
1968 - Fair Race Champion
1969 - Track Champion
1969 - 1970 VP of Tri-State Racing
1972 - President of Tri-State Racing
1975 - Russ Laursen Trophy Winner
1975 - Four feature wins

Lauren served on the track safety crew for many years and his daughter Laurel was the Miss Speedway queen in 1966.  In 1966, $1.25 got you into the races as an adult and $.50 cents for your kids.  Lauren was forced to retire from racing after changing jobs which required more of his time.  (Too bad because work is overrated).

Billy Nelson Sr. #44

Billy started racing in 1957 and retired in 1987 after a decorated 30 year career.  Billy raced in three classes over the years including Sportsman, Super Stock and Late Models.  During his career, Billy became one of the winningest drivers at Superior by tallying 35 feature and 68 heat wins.  He was going around in circles for 30 years!

Sportsman:
1964 - Started Racing this class
1965 - Track Champion
13 feature wins and 2 top 5's

Super Stock:
1974 & 1975 - Track Champion
9 top 5's and 10 top 10's
19 Feature Wins
36 Heat Wins
1976 - Russ Laursen Classic Champ
1978 - Track Champion

Late Model:
1 Championship
2 top 5's
4 top 10's
9 Heat Wins
3 Feature Wins

The racing tradition continues in the Nelson family--Billy owns the 2003 Masterbuilt Late Model driven by his son Darrell.  Billy's son Nick also drives a Late Model at Superior.

Jerry "Gringo" TaBelle #72

Jerry's racing career began in 1956 while working with Luke McLean on Luke's race car and Jerry continued to pit for Luke for another 10 years.

In 1966, Jerry drove the Sportsman class for Jim Bartley and finished 8th that season.  1967 found Jerry driving a 1965 Ford Mustang for Harold Hunter and he again finished in 8th position.

Jerry's fortunes reverses in 1968 and 1969 when he was the Stock champion and also had 6 feature wins in '69.  Jerry finished his career in a late model after the 1970 season.

Jerry set the Stock class time trial record on July 2, 1967 and again on July 18, 1969.

Dwaine "Oulu" Erickson #62

Dwaine started racing in 1964 in the Stock class and stopped racing in 1993 while driving a modified.  Dwaine is only one of two drivers to compete in four divisions of racing at the Superior Speedway -- Stock, Super Stock, Modified, and Late Models (10 feature wins in LM) with a combined total of 18 feature wins during his career.

One of Dwaine's memorable moments occurred in 1976 while running 12th in the feature race and, while not having a chance of winning, a major crash occurred in front of him.  Somehow, Dwaine made it through the crash and ended up winning the feature.

Rusty Levine #52

Rusty began his nine year Late Model racing career in 1958 at the tender age of 16.  Rusty retired from racing in 1967 again at the near tender age of 24.

Rusty amassed 45 feature wins in the area, including 6 at Superior Speedway and was crowned track champion in 1964.

Dick Christman #3 & #89

Dick began racing in 1961 and his first race car was a 1948 Mercury.  While racing for 33 years, Dick had over 250 feature wins, including 1976 in which his best season yielded a whopping 30 heat wins and 29 feature wins.

As a Late Model driver Dick won two track championships, 10 features, 35 heats and finished in the top 5 9 times and had 11 top ten finishes.

Competition in the Super Stock division saw Dick win 4 track championships, 32 features, 64 heat wins, 11 top 5 finishes and 13 top 10s.  Also, Dick won the Russ Laursen Classic in both 1975 and 1979.

Finally, you'll know Dick today as the builder of the Tony Stewart and Earnhart Tribute golf carts used frequently for the Superior Speedway's National Anthem.

Johnny Johnson #31

Arguably, one of the most recognized names in all of local dirt track racing, Johnny Johnson's illustrious racing career began in 1954 and spanned several decades.  During Johnny's career, he tallied 35 feature wins, 52 heat wins, 3 championships, 19 top 5 finishes and 29 top 10s all while competing in the Late Model class.

A short Modified career saw Johnny finish in the top five once.