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Written by:
Tom Jensen
06/20/2008 - 04:34 PM
Sonoma, Calif.
Watch the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series today at 2:00 pm Eastern live on SPEED from Gateway International Raceway. ยป More Photos
Ken Clapp, who has spent nearly six decades promoting races on the West Coast, was inducted into the Infineon Raceway Wall of Fame Friday before an august crowd that included NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.
Clapp, 69, a native of Danville, Calif., was instrumental in the creation of Sears Point Raceway — now Infineon Raceway — and he was also one of the principals that helped bring the then-NASCAR Winston Cup Series to the Sonoma Valley in 1989.
“Ken was my original boss when I came out to the West Coast,” said France, who worked for Clapp in Tucson, Ariz. “He’s been a pioneer for all the things that NASCAR’s done out west — the original Winston West Series, the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series, plus bringing the Sprint Cup Series here to Infineon. He was one of the pioneers on the West Coast.”
Sears Point Raceway held its first event in 1968, a Sports Car Club of America Enduro, but Clapp was responsible for bringing the first big-time event to the Sonoma Valley in 1970 with the USAC IndyCar 150. The race featured notable drivers like Mario Andretti, Mark Donahue, Al and Bobby Unser and race-winner Dan Gurney - it was the last victory of Gurney's legendary career.
Clapp also helped bring the NASCAR West Series to Sears Point Raceway with a pair of events in 1969, as well as a huge Funny Car drag meet.
“Ken was there at the beginning and at many points along the way as this facility has developed and grown
Clapp has also had several positions within NASCAR, most notably Vice President of Western Operations for nearly 20 years, followed by Vice President of Marketing and Development, until his retirement in 1999, at which time he became a senior consultant - a responsibility he still holds.
“I never even dreamed of something like this,” Clapp said of his induction. “When Steve Page called me and told me, I didn’t know what to say. I mean I’ve walked by that wall before and thought, ‘That’s a really nice deal for all those guys.’ I’m humbly very appreciative of it.”
Tom Jensen is the Senior NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the President of the National Motorsports Press Association. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to
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