RALPH SEAGRAVES
(4/21/29 - 9/27/98)
Ralph Seagraves was, without question, the most influential man in Motorsports for the past forty years. Seagraves, a native of Winston-Salem, went to work for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. in 1955. He was in charge of the Special Events department, which was later called Winston Sports Marketing. He started Winston's involvement in NASCAR and in 1973 he brought Winston to NHRA and IHRA. Their involvement brought both forms of racing to the fore front for millions of Motorsports fans. By supporting, not only the major tracks, but all of the sanctioned tracks in the US from coast-to-coast, everyone knew what the Winston 'Red' stood for.
Ralph Seagraves not only brought racing to America, he oversaw Winston's involvement in several hundred major events a year.
The legacy of Ralph Seagraves is quite simply that of Motorsports, which wouldn't be what it is today without his vision and leadership.
(Picture above is Ralph with his wife Ardette and to the right is Ralph with Maurice Petty)
CURTIS SMITH
Curtis, a native of Clinton, NC, began his racing career in 1974. His first race car was a '69 Camaro that he raced at Kinston Dragway.
Curtis went on to win 17 national meets on the NHRA and IHRA curcuits driving the 1967 Camaro "Hot Stuff". He was the first Sportsman driver to win three IHRA national events in a row, he won an IHRA World Championship in 1966 and is currently number ten on the IHRA national events list.
Curtis, who built his own motors, with help from Bobby Warren, gives credit to his dad and mother, Earl and Christine and his father-and mother-in-law, Eugene and Dotty Carlsward for their help and support during his racing career. He is truly a NC Hall of Famer.
DOUG HERBERT
Doug, now residing in Concord, NC, gives credit to his dad Chet, who is a NHRA Hall of Famer and Billy Williams, as having the biggest influence on his racing career.
In the Top Fuel Class, Doug has 10 IHRA National Events wins and 20 NHRA National Events wins for a total of 30 National Event wins, which has led him to 4 IHRA World Championships as well as being the 2nd member of the 300 MPH Club. A former Eagle Scout and Pilot, Doug is building a car that he will race at the Bonneville Salt Flats with the goal of running 500 MPH, which will break the world land speed record.
Doug is presently the owner and operator of Doug Herbert Performance in Charlotte, North Carolina as well as the founder of B.R.A.K.E.S., Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe, an organisation designed to prevent injuries and save lives by training and education teenage drivers and their families about the importance of safe and responsible driving, forming B.R.A.K.E.S. was a decision Doug made after tragically loosing his sons, Jon and James in 2008 do to an automobile accident. Perseverance is what has made Doug a great racer and a Hall of Famer.
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TOMMY MAUNEY
Tommy, currently residing in Shelby, North Carolina, began his professional career at Bristol in 1974. He won is first IHRA Pro Stock Championship in 1990 and has been one of the few racers to successfully move to Pro Modified where he won another IHRA Championship in 1995 and went on to win many National events in the Pro Modified class.
A noted and highly respected owner of TM Race Cars, he designs and builds cars for many Pro Modified racers. Among his early influences in racing he's included Jerry Joyce, Ronnie & Virgil Church, Gene Fulton and Harry Wright. Tommy credits his crew members, the Willifords, Shannon Jenkins, Dean Jonas and Drot Bell for much of his sucess in racing.
A Pro Modified pioneer and race car fabricator, makes him a drag rac
ing warrior and a member of the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame. 
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