LINCOLN, Alabama (January 12, 2026) — It’s easy to get caught up in motorsports circles all over the country, if not the entire world. However, the state of Alabama has a uniquely notable racing scene, and one particular organization has come to the forefront of celebrating racing endeavors in the Yellowhammer State.

The Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers is a group of over 300 motorsports enthusiasts dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of racing in the state of Alabama. Each year, the organization inducts a new class of honorees—both living and deceased—into its prestigious Pioneers Hall of Fame. Alongside these inductions, the organization also awards the B.J. Parker Racing Ambassador Award annually to an individual who has significantly contributed to the promotion and growth of the sport.

The 30th annual induction ceremony for the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers Hall of Fame was held this past Saturday, January 10th. Every year, a new class of noteworthy individuals from the Alabama racing scene join elite company with their induction into this particular Hall of Fame. Names like Charles “Red” Farmer, Bobby Allison, and Donnie Allison serve as a small example of just some who have been awarded with this honor.

“This particular class is a ‘working class’ one,” said Bob Massey, President of the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers. “What stands out here is that people [in this class] weren’t necessarily professional racers, but they held a deep love for the sport. They worked ‘9-5’ jobs, came home, worked on their cars, competed in their race cars, and started all over again the next week. This is a really good representation of the working class.

“This is a people’s Hall of Fame,” added Massey. “Everyone was voted on by their peers out here in the audience. The people here today were the ones who put these inductees on that stage.”

This story will shed light on the four deceased inductees, the four living inductees, and the recipient of the B.J. Parker Award, with the goal of preserving the history of these great contributors to the Alabama racing scene.

Deceased Inductees

Howard Cagle — A cornerstone of North Alabama stock car racing for several years, Howard Cagle served as a racer, engine builder, car builder, and crew chief. Getting his start in the sport in 1957, Cagle started racing on dirt before eventually competing in both dirt and pavement racing contests. Cagle was notably known as the owner of Howard’s Machine Shop for 43 years, building countless race-winning engines for several competitors. Cagle was also a trusted specialist in crankshaft work for names such as Bobby Allison and Charles “Red” Farmer. Both on and off the track, Cagle helped support three generations of short track racers, leaving an indelible mark on the Alabama racing scene. Cagle unfortunately passed away in 2019, but his memory lives on with the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers.

Gene Chupp — Gene Chupp did not originally begin his racing career in Alabama, as he first started racing near Detroit, Michigan at the famous Flat Rock Speedway in 1952. Eventually, however, Chupp would become a dominant force in Alabama dirt track competition. With a career spanning four decades, Chupp secured over 500 feature wins and several track championships. Chupp’s racing legacy was passed down to his son, Randle, who was a respected racer in his own right. Gene Chupp passed away in 1993, and was posthumously inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2009.

Frank Grill — Frank “Frankie” Grill was born in 1942 in the Birmingham area. Grill decided to open up Neil Bonnett Race Cars in 1982. Grill’s craftsmanship as a chassis builder earned him a strong reputation across the country. The name of the business was eventually changed to Grand American Race Cars (GARC), which still exists today under the leadership of Grill’s son, Augie. GARC machines have won thousands of races across America, including prestigious events such as the Snowball Derby. Frank Grill passed away in 2020, but his legacy is still strongly present in the short track world. South Alabama Speedway in Kinston, Alabama announced the creation of the Frank Grill Memorial 112 Super Late Model race in 2025, ensuring that his legacy lives on in more ways than just chassis building.

Travis Mince — Known as a self-made racer and car builder, Travis Mince left a lasting impression on the dirt racing scene around Gadsden, Alabama. Mince took pride in doing more with less, often beating better-funded competitors by virtue of his ingenuity and determination. Mince competed in his fair share of events in Alabama and beyond, showcasing his mechanical creativity to the region he raced in. One notable feat in Mince’s career is when he ran at two tracks in one night, finishing 2nd at Gadsden Raceway before making the trip to Green Valley Speedway, where he finished 3rd that same evening. Mince passed away in 2013, but has left behind a family of racers, with his sons and grandson participating in short track racing as well.

Living Inductees

Larry Armstrong — Larry Armstrong had an early start in racing, competing at Lassiter Mountain Dragway when he was still in high school in 1963. Armstrong frequented drag strips in the area for a few years before transitioning to oval racing later on in the 1960’s. Armstrong would become a regular competitor at tracks such as Birmingham International Raceway (BIR) and Montgomery Motor Speedway. Armstrong secured several victories as well as a championship at BIR in 1979. Nowadays, Armstrong can be found in a mentor role, helping his grandson as he begins his racing career on some of the tracks that Armstrong used to be so good at.

Danny Bagwell — From a young age, Danny Bagwell had always been around racing. Oftentimes, Bagwell could be found with his father, turning wrenches and being involved with various racing enterprises. In the mid-1980’s, Bagwell started competing in Mini Modifieds at tracks such as BIR, Sayre, Huntsville, and Montgomery. Bagwell moved up to the Goody’s Dash Series in the early 1990’s, competing in the series for several years. After the series had been renamed into the ISCARS Dash Touring Series, Bagwell picked up four series championships. Bagwell won the final ISCARS Dash Touring Series championship in 2011 before the series ultimately folded. Bagwell ventured into other short track exploits in 2012, continuing his career as a tenacious racer and sportsman.

Randle Chupp — The name Randle Chupp might sound familiar to readers of this story. Chupp’s father, Gene, was one of the deceased inductees in this year’s class, making the father-son duo the first to ever be selected into the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers Hall of Fame in the same year. Randle, a racer in his own right, has a record of utter domination at the short track level. He’s won at tracks all across the USA, from California to New York and a lot of places in-between. Whether it be as a driver, a crew member, or a consultant, Chupp is said to have scored over 1,500 wins as well as championships across Alabama and the Carolinas. Chupp’s versatility and ability to win in nearly any role is a testament to just how dedicated he is to the sport of racing as a whole.

David Melvin — Getting his start in racing in the early 1970’s, David Melvin has served many roles in the North Alabama racing world and beyond. Whether it be serving as a crew member for the legendary Jerry Goodwin or racing himself at North Alabama short tracks like BIR and Huntsville, Melvin did it all. He even had his hand in some manufacturing enterprises. Melvin worked for Frank Grill at Grand American Race Cars for many years, also launching his own company, MelPro Products. MelPro manufactured fiberglass and aluminum body panels which were used by NASCAR racers and short track wheelmen nationwide. Melvin also ventured outside of the short track world, working for Stanley Smith’s NASCAR Winston Cup Series team in 1992. Melvin’s legacy is one of dedication to stock car racing from many different perspectives, showcasing just how worthy he is of this Hall of Fame induction.

B.J. Parker Racing Ambassador Award

Dennis Ingle — Dennis Ingle’s introduction to racing was a story like many others. His father frequently took him to watch races at BIR, instilling a passion for the sport at a young age. In the mid-1980’s, Ingle raced himself and crewed for various other teams. Supporting other racers’ ventures grew to be a habit for Ingle, who still supports the sport to this day. Ingle’s business ventures can be seen in the form of sponsorship stickers on many race cars, from Quarter Midgets to Modifieds. Ingle’s continued support for short track racing makes him a perfect recipient of the B.J. Parker Award, meant to honor those who have proven to be valuable ambassadors of auto racing in Alabama.

If you are interested in joining the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers, or are interested in attending one of their upcoming events, you can find more information at aarpinc.org.

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All photos: Grady Thornton