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Class of 2002
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Paul Sawyer
Paul Sawyer is recognized as one of the founding fathers of modern day NASCAR and a guiding force behind the emergence of stock car racing as one of America’s most popular and fastest growing sports.
It was the Tadlock racing family in Norfolk that first exposed Sawyer to the world of competitive racing. As a boy in the 1930’s, Sawyer was a regular fixture in the Tadlock’s garage where he learned the fundamentals of engines and auto racing.
After World War II, Sawyer began his career as a car builder and eventually became a track owner, operating tracks in Virginia Beach and Wilson, NC. The experience prepared Sawyer for the challenges of race promotion that would be needed down the road.
In 1955, Sawyer and driver Joe Weatherly (VSHF Class of 1976) leased the Fairgrounds Raceway in Richmond. It was a move that would ultimately change the face of racing in Virginia. By the summer of 1968, Sawyer had paved the one-half mile dirt track. The facility expanded as the popularity of NASCAR swept the country, transforming the once 6,000-seat Fairgrounds dirt track into a destination for race fans across the country. Now the 103,000-seat, three-quarter mile Richmond International Raceway stands as a testament to Sawyer’s entrepreneurial spirit and unbridled enthusiasm.
From his days as a boy spent in the Tadlock’s garage to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Paul Sawyer has realized his dream and is universally recognized as one of the true pioneers in motor sports. His influence on Virginia’s sports scene is immeasurable and his impact on the growth of NASCAR will be felt for years to come.
(To Sports Inductees List)
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