Morgan Shepherd, NASCAR pioneer Jack Smith selected to Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame
Morgan Shepherd and Jack Smith have been selected through a fan vote as the next drivers to be enshrined to the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame.
A ceremony honoring the pair will be Oct. 31. Shepherd won the active driver nomination over Michael Waltrip and Kasey Kahne, while Smith won in the inactive driver category.
The Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame in downtown Talladega salutes NASCAR’s greatest drivers and also serves as a tribute to the late Davey Allison. Developed in 1994, the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame has inducted one active driver and up to two inactive drivers since 1995 based on the fans’ vote on a list chosen from a ballot of nominees selected by strict guidelines.
Shepherd, 67, of Ferguson, N.C., made his NASCAR Cup debut in 1970 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Since then, Shepherd has competed in one of NASCAR’s top divisions. He is a four-time winner in the Cup series and has 15 wins in what is now the Nationwide series. He currently competes in the Nationwide ranks. Shepherd is the 1980 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman division champion and recipient of the 2005 National Motorsports Press Association Pocono Spirit Award.
As co-owner of his Faith Motorsports team, Shepherd oversees all daily operations of the race team including car preparation, engine building, testing and racing. Shepherd also serves as a lay minister.
Smith, of Metropolis, Ill., was one of NASCAR’s pioneers. He first raced in 1949, beginning a career that would span 15 years. He recorded 21 Cup wins and is a member of the NMPA Hall of Fame. Smith passed away in 2001 at the age of 78.
