CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. — Dirt track ace Mike Romano, two-time NASCAR modified champion Jimmy Spencer, two-surface star Charlie Rudolph and car-owner Jerry Higbie, Sr. have been elected to the New York State Stock Car Ass’n Hall of Fame.
Romano is a three-time Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway big-block modified champion, earning 48 victories at the half-mile dirt oval. He also earned track titles at Autodrome Drummond and Autodrome Granby in Quebec during the 1995 season. He also has 21 victories and two championships in the 320 division at Fonda Speedway to go along with a title and five victories in the 358-modified class.
Spencer first made his mark racing at Shangri-La Speedway in New York, earning the 1983 modified track crown. He slowly moved up the ranks, eventually capturing the NASCAR Modified National crown in 1986 and 1987. He eventually moved to NASCAR’s premier series, then called the Winston Cup Series, where he earned two victories in 1994. He now works as an analyst for Speed.
Rudolph was just as good on dirt as he was on asphalt. He has championships at Lancaster Speedway, Cayuga County Speedway, Rolling Wheels Raceway and Ransomville Speedway to his credit. He is also a former Mr. DIRTcar champion, earning that crown in 1986.
Higbie started his career as a driver in the mid-1960s before moving to the ownership role. Alongside his brother Gary, Higbie fielded cars at Accord Speedway, Orange County Fair Speedway and Nazareth Speedway. They captured races and championships in both sportsman and big-block modifieds.
The new Hall of Fame members will be inducted during the NYSSCA Banquet Jan. 23 at the Polish American Club in Albany, N.Y. A ceremony will be held the next day at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, site of the group’s permanent Hall of Fame display. The event will feature remarks by the inductees as well as a question and answer session involving the audience.