BAKERSFIELD, Calif. When you take your biggest annual event to Las Vegas the nations Entertainment Capitol you had best bring your A Game.

The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame met that challenge on March 13, when it celebrated its 22nd Induction Gala, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. With a huge assist from the hosting South Point Resort and Casino, the sold-out celebration was nothing short of spectacular.

Among those impressed by the Halls first event outside California were guests Roger Penske and Richard Petty.

I had no idea this dinner had grown to the heights it has, said Penske, the 20-time Indianapolis 500 winning team owner and reigning NASCAR Cup Series championship car owner who inducted the Unser Family.

Petty, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, accepted the 2025 Knockin Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year presented by 51FIFTY award on behalf of the familys Victory Junction camp. He expressed pleasure in being a part of the festivities.

Added presenters included Daytona 500 winner and WCSCMHOF Derrike Cope; and NASCAR Cup Series champion and WCSCMHOF Kevin Harvick. NASCAR Cup Series champions and WCSCMHOF Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson presented via video. The Halls Lady of the Century Linda Vaughn also presented.

In the near quarter century since the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame was founded, this years Gala and Induction dinner individual is the most successful individual event weve ever presented, said Ken Clapp, West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame chairman and CEO. Speaking for the Board of Directors and myself, we are gratified at the never-ending compliments weve received.

Larree Renda, a member of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fames Board of Directors, lauded Clapp during the evenings program. Ken has touched the lives of tens of thousands of people colleagues, family, friends with kindness humor, empathy and generosity and the legacy he has created is what brings us together tonight to celebrate these amazing and accomplished race car drivers, owners and promoters.

Members of the class of 2025 are A.J. Allmendinger, Los Gatos, Calif., NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series veteran; Chuck Gurney, Oakland, Calif., United States Auto Club Silver Crown and supermodified champion; Davey Hamilton, Nampa, Idaho, Canadian-American Modified Association champion, Indianapolis 500 veteran and race promoter; Jeff Jefferson, Naches, Wash., three-time NASCAR Northwest Series driver champion and former NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West owner; Justin Marks, Menlo Park, Calif., founder and team owner of Trackhouse Entertainment Group and Trackhouse Racing; Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif., Sports Car Club of America Trans-Am and Grand-Am GT champion; Rick Ware, Los Angeles, Calif., owner of teams competing in NASCAR Cup Series, the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the NTT IndyCar Series, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, and FIM World Supercross and AMA American Flat Track motorcycles.

The Heritage Class is comprised of the racing Unser family, nine-time Indianapolis 500 winners Al Unser, Al Unser Jr. and Bobby Unser; Idaho sprint car and supermodified champion Ken Hamilton; three generations of the Hunt family Joe, Tommy and Tony; California supermodified champion Mike Sargent; and two-time United States Auto Club national midget champion Sleepy Tripp.

The organizations second Pioneers of Speed are Michael (Blackie) Gejeian, Fresno, Calif. race and auto show promoter; Ted Halibrand, Southern California pioneer of wheels and brakes; Ed Iskenderian, Los Angeles, known as The Camfather; Jack London, Oakland, Calif., midget competitor and longtime Bay Cities Racing Assn president; and Wally Parks, founder of the National Hot Rod Assn.