Darrell Gwynn was in the middle of one of the biggest sporting events in the history of Reading and Berks County.
 
On a September evening in 1990 over 12,000 fans jammed into FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Reading Phillies, to watch racers from the NHRA and NASCAR take part in a charity softball game.
 
Gwynn, who was an up-and-coming Top Fuel driver in the NHRA, was tragically injured during an exhibition race in England months before. He ended up paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair.

Darrell Gwynn leads ’10 Walk of Fame class

Darrell Gwynn was in the middle of one of the biggest sporting events in the history of Reading and Berks County.
 
On a September evening in 1990 over 12,000 fans jammed into FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Reading Phillies, to watch racers from the NHRA and NASCAR take part in a charity softball game.
 
Gwynn, who was an up-and-coming Top Fuel driver in the NHRA, was tragically injured during an exhibition race in England months before. He ended up paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair.
 
That night, over $180,000 was raised to help Gwynn pay for his medical bills and help raise awareness for paralysis and the thousands of people affected by it every year.
 
With the 20th anniversary of that special night being commemorated, Gwynn, along with six other drag racing notables, will be inducted into Maple Grove Raceway’s Walk of Fame.
 
The class of Darrell Gwynn, Jerry Gwynn, Dallas Gardner, Steve Gibbs, Darwin Doll, Jack Redd and Kenny Koretsky will have their names inscribed on bricks that will be placed adjacent to PPC Lubricants Victory Lane in front of MGR’s souvenir store.
 
“Reading is a very special place to me,” said Darrell Gwynn, who stays involved with drag racing as a team owner. “The fans in Pennsylvania are some of the greatest in the world. I’m glad to be coming back and receiving this honor.”
 
The class will be formally inducted during the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals in early October. There are events planned that weekend for the 20th anniversary, including a benefit Thursday night, Oct. 7, and a “walk the track” morning with Darrell Gwynn.
 
More details on those events will be coming soon.
 
Members of the 2010 class are:
 
Dallas Gardner
MGR connection: Was NHRA president when Maple Grove Raceway was awarded national event in 1985.
Biography: The current chairman of the board for the NHRA, Gardner joined the organization in 1973 and helped raise its profile into the biggest organization in drag racing. He became NHRA president in 1984 and moved to chairman of the board in 2000.
 
Steve Gibbs
MGR connection: Former NHRA competition director was helpful in bringing Nationals to Maple Grove and later helped grow the Geezers Reunion at The Grove.
Biography: He started working in drag racing back in Southern California back in the early 1960s and worked his way up to management positions at tracks in Irwindale and Fremont before joining the NHRA in 1969. Served as competition director until 1997 and is presently working with the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona while promoting nostalgia racing.
Quotable: “I was the NHRA event director when we started national events at Maple Grove way back when. It was a great experience going into a new venue and helping get that event started. I enjoyed going there. It’s a great part of the country and people are great, too. It’s a great event, I’m glad to have played a small part in getting that established.”

Darwin Doll
MGR connection: As NHRA Northeast Division director awarded Maple Grove Raceway its points meet in 1971.
Biography: Served as NED director for 17 years before holding management positions at Michigan International Speedway, Sears Point International Raceway, Raceway Development Corp., and the IHRA. He currently promotes the York Nostalgia, York Reunion and Nostalgia Nationals.
Quotable: “(Maple Grove) is one of our good tracks in the Northeast. My memories go back to Stauffer family, Mike Lewis and Lex Dudas who were running the facility at the time. We had many good races there at Maple Grove. It’s always been one of the premiere tracks in the Northeast.”
 
Darrell Gwynn
MGR connection: Two-time national event winner in Top Fuel at Maple Grove (1988, ’89), he was seriously injured in a racing accident that left him paralyzed. Benefit softball game in 1990 between NHRA and NASCAR drivers at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading drew 12,000 fans and raised $180,000 to help with medical bills.
Biography: Named one of the NHRA’s 50 greatest all-time driers in 2002, he won 18 races in Top Fuel and was NHRA world champion in Top Alcohol Dragster in 1983. After his tragic accident, Gwynn became a team owner where he achieved further success. Serves as president and chairman of the Darrell Gwynn Foundation that exists to prevent, provide for and ultimately cure spinal cord injuries and other debilitating illnesses.
 
Jerry Gwynn
MGR connection: Father of Darrell Gwynn, who was a Top Alcohol Dragster racer himself and helped organize the big softball game. A former NHRA world champion, he raced several times at Maple Grove over the years.
Biography: He has served on the board of the Darrell Gwynn since 2002 after working 32 years for Chevron as a construction and maintenance supervisor in Florida. Better known for his exploits on the dragstrip, winning the NHRA championship in Super Eliminator in 1969 and won many NHRA Southeast Division titles.
 
Jack Redd
MGR connection: Drag racing pioneer whose association with Maple Grove goes back to the track’s infancy in the early 1960s. Helped organize East Coast Drag News Top Dog Meet at The Grove in 1964.
Biography: Came up with the idea for the “Jack Approved” decals that are considered a drag racing badge of honor to this day. Competed on dragstrips since the 1950s and won the AHRA 1963 Springnationals in E-Stock class. Worked for Eastern Drag News and Drag Times until 1977 and then became an accident recovery specialist. Remains active on the nostalgia circuit.

Kenny Koretsky
MGR connection: Racer, team owner and businessman is one of the best-known motorsports personalities to come out of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Considers MGR to be one of his “hometown” tracks.
Biography: Also know as “Captain Chaos,” businessman from Bucks County has driven both Top Fuel and Pro Stock cars during his career as a driver. He’s now on the business end of things and is helping sponsor several teams, including Greg Stanfield’s Pro Stock car this season.