The Redwood Acres Raceway will celebrate some local legends this weekend, as the local track gets set to induct a new class into its hall of fame.

The new class will be honored during Saturday night’s races, which will include the Jim Walker Fair Classic race for the Late Models.

The 2026 hall of fame inductees include Bob Britt, Bill Schmitt, Mark Baldwin, Rick Harper and Tim Marsh Sr.

This weekend’s racing, which will be the second event of the season, includes Legends, Upstate Bombers and mini stocks, as well as the Mid-City Motor World Late Models.

The Jim Walker Fair Classic race will feature two 48-lap segments with the winner of each earning $2,000.

Bob Britt – Britt, a Eureka native, was an innovator and one of the top drivers in Humboldt County in the 1960s. 

Britt created the 101 Speedway, which operated for a brief period in the late 1960s and was situated between Eureka and Arcata. 

The initial version of 101 Speedway suffered from high winds from Humboldt Bay which made it difficult for drivers to see through the dust and dirt. 

Britt returned to racing at Redwood Acres Raceway in 1969 and was the super stock champion that season.

He passed away in 2021.

Bill Schmitt – Big Bill Schmitt was a four-time NASCAR Winston West Series (now ARCA Menards West) champion (1977, 1979, 1989 and 1990) and won 19 races in the series. 

He was also a regular in the West Coast late model scene on dirt and asphalt through the 70s and 80s, winning the 1975 Nor-Cal 150, the 1976 Western 150, and the North Coast Dirt Classic at Redwood Acres Raceway in 1978.

One of Schmitt’s most memorable moments in racing came in an outstanding display of sportsmanship and respect. In night one of a two-night event held during the 1976 Redwood Acres Raceway Fair, Schmitt made contact with Jim Walker in the second turn, sending Walker spinning. 

Schmitt slowed and allowed Walker to catch up and retake the lead position. The two resumed racing with Walker holding off Schmitt to win. 

The result would be the opposite the following night with Schmitt holding off Walker for the victory.

Schmitt retired from racing at the end of the 1993 season and passed away in November of 2014. 

The ARCA Menards West Series and Shasta Speedway honored Schmitt by naming their event the Bill Schmitt Memorial 173 in May of this year.

Mark Baldwin – Baldwin was a fixture on the dirt at Redwood Acres Raceway as well as on the asphalt at tracks up and down the west coast during the 1980s. 

He took the biggest victory of his racing career in 1982 at the All American Speedway when he won the prestigious Rose Classic.

Baldwin’s victory came over the top stars in the open competition racing scene at the time, including Dick Cobb, Rick Carelli, Bob Philpott, Dan Press and Jim Walker. 

Baldwin was the last driver to take a track championship on the Redwood Acres Raceway dirt in 1987, in the the super stock division.

Baldwin continued racing on the Acres asphalt in the 80s and 90s in the super stocks and later in the mini stocks. 

Throughout the years, he helped bring major sponsorship dollars to the raceway, specifically for North State Modified Series events. His strong support of racing at Redwood Acres Raceway continues to this day.

Rick Harper – There are few mechanics in West Coast short track racing who have as decorated a career as that of Harper. 

He was the crew chief for 2021 Redwood Acres Raceway Hall Of Fame Inductee, Jim Walker, throughout his career spanning six decades.

Harper helped guide Walker to track championships at Redwood Acres Raceway on the dirt in 1970, 1971 and 1972 in the super stock division, as well as on the paved track in 1988 and 1989. 

The two would also win the 1992 Late Model Tour Car championship at the Ukiah Speedway.

With so many victories against so many of the top drivers throughout the years, it’s safe to say that Harper truly is one of the most accomplished crew chiefs in West Coast stock car racing history.

Tim Marsh, Sr. – Marsh grew up racing quarter midgets and would later race sprint cars. 

He was a president of Redwood Empire’s Quarter Midget Association, a board member of the Six Rivers Racing Association and a lifetime member of Portland’s Quarter Midget Association.

Marsh competed on the Redwood Acres Raceway dirt and would win championships in the Limited Modified and Open Wheel division in 1983 and 1984.

Marsh and his wife Shari owned and operated The Trophy Store in Eureka for 25 years. 

Through the 80s and 90s, The Trophy Store was a yearly sponsor of racing at Redwood Acres Raceway. 

In addition, Marsh designed and printed fan apparel for several of the top drivers during the time, including Jim Walker, Randy Olson and Rusty Olson.

Marsh passed away in 2014 but is still remembered for the numerous positive contributions he made to racing at Redwood Acres Raceway, both on and off the track.