The Class of 2008 is as diverse as any of the previous four groups to be inducted. The six new inductees included a track manager and former NASCAR Cup Series team owner; a championship car owner and official; a track owner, builder and promoter; a five-time championship driver, builder and official; a racing pioneer and a track announcer.

Presented by Jerry Major, Dick Bahre worked alongside brother Bob to bring Oxford Plains Speedway to national attention with NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) Series races in the 1960’s, the famed Getty Opens of the early 1970’s and beginning in 1974, the OXFORD 250. Dick fielded cars on the NASCAR Cup Series in the 1980’s and was co-owner of Bahari Racing. He supervised the construction of New Hampshire International Speedway.

Unable to attend the ceremonies due to ill health, stepdaughter Cindy Bray accepted the Hall of Fame plaque for Dick.

Tony DiPompo, who was also presented by Jerry Major, built race cars driven by brother Bobby at Oxford Plains Speedway beginning in 1957. In the 1970’s, Tony teamed up with Al Hammond to win two track championships and 46 Late Model races. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Technical Director at Oxford for over twenty-years.

Daughter Natalie DiPompo Kyllonen and Freddie DiPompo accepted the Hall of Fame plaque for their father Tony who passed away in 1994.

Presented by Andy Cusack, Bob Knowles was educated on race track ownership from his father Ed Knowles, founder of Unity Raceway. Bob took over the reigns of Unity in 1960, converted the track from a dirt track to a one-third mile asphalt oval and installed lights. An innovative promoter, Bob owned Unity for over 20 years. He also built Spud Speedway in Caribou and promoted races at Speedway 95 in Bangor.

Bob and Ed Knowles are the only father and son members of the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame. Ed was inducted in 2005.

Otis Perry was a true Maine racing pioneer. Presenter Andy Cusack told of Otis being one of Jim McConnell’s "contract drivers" when Beech Ridge Speedway opened in May of 1949. Described by McConnell "as a natural", Otis raced and won races at all of the dirt tracks in southern Maine in 1949 and early1950’s, including Beech Ridge, Oxford Plains Speedway, Norway Fairgrounds and Lewiston Fairgrounds. Otis retired from racing in 1960.

Sons Danny and Ray Perry accepted the Hall of Fame plaque for their father Otis, who passed away in 2001.

Presented by Bruce Elder, Russ Nutting first climbed into a race car in 1957 and has never really climbed out as he continues to win races fifty years later. Russ has won five track championships (Oxford Plains 1961, Arundel Speedway 1965, Hudson (N.H.) Speedway 1999, 2003, 2004) and over 125 races at 28 different tracks. He continues to build winning cars for others and has served as Technical Director at five different tracks.

Steve Pellerin presented the evening’s final inductee Bob Walker. Bob’s introduction to racing came from his father who sponsored and owned race cars in the 1950’s at Oxford Plains. He served as an assistant pit steward at Beech Ridge as a teenager and later became "the voice of Oxford" beginning in 1971. Due to a series of strokes, Bob retired from announcing in 2006 only to focus his experiences and energies as an author of "I couldn’t Drive – but I could Talk".

The emotional evening closed with an autograph session.

Wayne True was presented "The President’s Award" for his dedication to help preserve racing history in Maine. In presenting the award, Association president Bob Morris noted Wayne’s efforts in organizing new events to showcase vintage race cars and to promote the objectives of the MVRCA.

Dan McKeage was presented the "Maine Driver of the Year Award" by the Association for his outstanding performance in 2007. McKeage won two NASCAR Whelen All American Series Pro Stock races at Beech Ridge motor Speedway on his way to a runner-up finish in the championship point standings. He also won three of eight Pass Sportsman Series events in 2007 to win that series championship.

Earlier in the evening, McKeage along with Oxford Plains Speedway Late Model Division champion Travis Adams and Beech Ridge NASCAR Whelen All American Series Pro Series champion Bub Bilodeau were presented special plaques for being a Finalist for the Driver of the Year award.

"Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2008 announced; Nutting, Walker, D. Bahre, Knowles among Six to be Inducted"

Auburn, Maine [November 15, 2007] – Two legendary drivers, a track owner/promoter, a car owner/track official, a track builder/general manager and a long time track announcer will be inducted into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame in the spring of 2008.

The six members of the Class of 2008 were announced on Sunday, November 11^th, at the General Meeting of the Maine Vintage Race Car Association. Bruce Elder, vice-president of the MVRCA and co-chairman of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, had the honor of announcing the names of the six inductees.

The Class of 2008 is comprised of: Dick Bahre, general manager of Oxford Plains Speedway for over 20 years; Tony Dipompo, championship car owner and track official; Bob Knowles, owner/promoter of Unity Raceway; Russ Nutting, fifty-year racing veteran; Otis Perry, legendary driver of the 1940’s and 1950’s; and Bob Walker, Oxford Plains Speedway announcer for over thirty years.

The Class of 2008 will be honored at the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremonies, presented by the Maine Vintage Race Car Association, at the Augusta (Maine) Civic Center on Saturday, April 5, 2008. The Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame was founded in 2004 and presently has 34 members.

The six members of the Class of 2008, with a brief summary of their contributions to motorsports in Maine, are:

  - DICK BAHRE – worked side by side with brother Bob Bahre at Oxford Plains Speedway for over 25 years and in building New Hampshire International Speedway; entered cars in NASCAR Cup Series and Late Model Sportsman division for about 20 years; brother Bob was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004.

  - TONY DIPOMPO – owned cars driven by brother Bobby in the 1960’s and Al Hammond in the 1970’s at Oxford Plains Speedway; won championships with Al Hammond 1973 and 1974; director, board chairman and technical director at Oxford.

  - BOB KNOWLES – owner and promoter of Unity Raceway in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s; also promoted Speedway 95; father Ed Knowles was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004.

  - RUSS NUTTING – driver and builder; began racing in the 1950’s; raced many tracks around New England - LMS, coupes, cutdowns, supers, modifieds - winner in all divisions; 5-time Getty Open winner at OPS; '58 OPS champ, '66 Arundel champion; has won races in six different decades; track official at Oxford and Star Speedway.

  - OTIS PERRY – raced in the 1940’s and 1950’s at Beech Ridge and Oxford Plains, many time winner; important and respected charter member of the Main State Stock Car Racing Association (MSSCRA) at Beech Ridge to help launch racing in Maine.

  - BOB WALKER – Oxford Plains Speedway announcer for over three decades, also served as director of media relations, marketing and public relations at Oxford; held positions at Star Speedway, Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina, Coos Bay Raceway in Oregon and with Joie Chitwood Thrill Show and NASCAR; author of new book – "I COULDN’T DRIVE, BUT I COULD TALK".