Buffalo, N.Y. (July 6, 2023) – The board of the Friends of Auto Racing Seeking Cooperation of Racing Enthusiasts (FOAR SCORE) Club Hall-of-Fame are proud to announce five (5) new members for their 2023 Hall of Fame class. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Classics V in Amherst, N.Y., as part of the club’s traditional post-season celebration.
The “2023” class of inductees represents the best candidates in who have participated, represented or worked in auto-racing within the region FOAR SCORE represents, which includes Western New York, the Niagara Frontier, Western Pennsylvania, Central New York and Southern Ontario.
Charlie “Chuck” Hoddick; Hoddick, the youngest brother in the “famed” Western New York racing family, had a brilliant driving career, winning championships in multiple divisions capturing the 1982, 1983 and 1993 Street Stock title as well as the very first Sportsman victory in 1994 in addition to being the first Sportsman track champion and ultimately winning one Modified feature at his home track of Lancaster Speedway. Hoddick later became an official and steward of the sport, before retiring. Now Hoddick can be found visiting events as a fan on occasion and has always remained a member of the FOAR SCORE Club.
Barbara “Barb” Holmes; Holmes is the matriarch of a racing family. Her husband, Ross, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame, last year said, “I would trade my spot so that she could be in there,” will now be side-by-side with his wife. Holmes served as a member of the club, a 50/50 ticket sales person and then evolved into the business side of the sport where she assisted Alex Friesen, Jennifer Fidanza and others at Lancaster Speedway before finishing her decorated and impactful career helping lead the Race of Champions Family of Series in to prominence.
Larry Woodruff; Woodruff, commonly referred to by his nickname “Woody” has been a part of the race officiating fabric through the region for nearly three decades. He is most recognized for his efforts on the flag stand, beginning his journey as a started at Wyoming County International Speedway and moving on to Lancaster, being servivng as an event official with World Racing Group (DIRTcar) and the Super DIRTcar Series, even flagging races on the “Moody Mile” at Syracuse. Woodruff continues to officiate with the Race of Champions and served as the Series starter until he elected to step down in 2023.
Mark “Bushy” Bliss; “Bushy” is a second generation racer that began his career on the high banks of Holland Speedway, before he went dirt racing. Bliss was successful at Freedom and Perry, winning 19 times in 42 starts during the 1990 season which vaulted him to multiple titles on dirt in the Street Stock division. Bliss showed his versatility going back and forth between dirt and asphalt throughout his career, earning NASCAR accolades for his efforts at Holland and Lake Erie Speedway with over 20 victories, NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series division III championship and back-to-back FOAR SCORE Driver of the Year on Asphalt Awards in 2005 and 2006.
Tom Schmeh; A Buffalo-born youngster that became a racing personality contributing on many levels throughout his career including promoting dirt late model races early on his career. While scoring races for NASCAR, Schmeh discovered sprint car racing and developed a passion for the sport that would shape his motorsports career. He developed the American Short Track Congress, which instituted the National Sprint Car poll, which remains active today. After working in a marketing position for Miller Brewing, he became involved with the development of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum in Knoxville, Iowa, where he was named the Executive Director in 1989 after serving a year on the board. Under his watch, the Hall of Fame became a reality with the grand opening in 1992. He remained the executive director until 2008 and as the curator until 2017. In 2019 he was inducted to Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the Outstanding Contribution to Sprint Car Racing award is named in his honor. After a life threatening illness, Schmeh returned to his native upstate New York where you may catch him enjoying a night at the races at the various speedways throughout the region. He continues to research the history of motorsports in the Northeast.
“It has been so rewarding to be the president of FOAR SCORE during the club’s 75th anniversary,” stated FOAR SCORE president Laura Schroeder. “I am so excited that we will be able to celebrate such incredible people in our sport at the induction and awards ceremonies in January. Each of these inductions has made an impact on auto-racing in such diverse ways. I am thrilled that we have the opportunity to honor them.”
The Friends of Auto-Racing Seeking Cooperation of Racing Enthusiasts (FOAR SCORE) is a non-profit organization that is the oldest auto-racing fan club in the United States. The club was formed in 1948 by race fans for the betterment of local auto-racing. The club attempts to help the sport of auto-racing in any way possible and their purpose is for the betterment of automobile racing for fans, drivers, car owners and promoters. The club has served to help in many fashions during it’s existence including donations to those in need, point-fund contributions and increasing the popularity and notoriety of the sport of auto-racing.
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