The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America has announced that John Mecom Jr. will receive the Bob Russo Heritage Award at the 28th Annual MSHFA Induction Ceremony Presented By Bridgestone on June 29, at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach.
The award, named in honor of the long-time motorsports journalist and historian, is presented at the recommendation of the MSHFA Board of Directors in recognition of the recipient’s contributions to motorsports throughout their career.
Mecom was one of the sport’s top team owners during the early and mid-1960s. Those who drove for him represent a Who’s Who of racing greats, many of them past MSHFA inductees, including Mario Andretti, Mark Donohue, A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, Walt Hansgen, Graham Hill, Phil Hill, Parnelli Jones, Augie Pabst, Roger Penske, Sir Jackie Stewart, Al Unser and Rodger Ward.
Mecom won the Indianapolis 500 in his first attempt with a three-car Lola “super team” comprised of Stewart, Ward and eventual winner Graham Hill. He also helped transform the Lola GT into a race winner and fielded Roger Penske’s Zerex Special before selling it to Bruce McLaren, who turned it into the first McLaren sports car. Mecom did all of this by the age of 26, whereupon he quit full-time involvement to manage a new project that his family business decided to undertake, the New Orleans Saints NFL franchise.
Tickets for the 2016 Induction Ceremony can be purchased by calling (248) 349-7223 or by visiting the MSHFA website at www.mshf.com.
