NOVI, Mich. — Open-wheel racing champion Michael Andretti, NASCAR legend Buddy Baker and perennial drag-racing king John Force will lead a class of seven racing greats into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America  Aug. 13 at the Fillmore Detroit.
These three, along with sports-car ace Richie Ginther, motorcycle hero Wayne Rainey, versatile competitor Paul Goldsmith and pioneering aerobatic pilot Betty Skelton will join 167 racers already in the Hall.
Andretti, the oldest son of Hall of Famer Mario Andretti, was the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 1984 and won the CART championship in 1991.
Baker won 19 races on the NASCAR circuit, including the 1980 Daytona 500.
Force is one of the most dominant drag racers in the history of the sport with 14 Funny Car championships and 125 career victories.
Ginther started his driving career in 1951 and competed in Mexican Road Races, LeMans and in Formula One.
Rainey won the 1983 and 1987 AMA Superbike Championship and the 1990, 1991 and 1992 500cc FIM World Road Racing Championship.
Between 1952 and 1966, Goldsmith won four major motorcycle races, nine NASCAR events and two USAC stock-car titles.
Skelton learned to fly an airplane before she could drive and ultimately won the Feminine Int’l Aerobatic Championships  three times.