Jim Butler

Wade Knowles, a Dixie-Rome Speedway champion in three Late Model-style divisions and two-time winner on the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series, on Tuesday was voted into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

“It’s a real honor,” the 57-year-old Knowles told the Dawsonville, Ga., Hall of Fame. “But I was just the one holding the steering wheel. None of this wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t had a great group supporting me."

Knowles, who competed from 1981-2001, was the Dixie-Rome Super Late Model champion in 1993 and won at every Georgia track he competed. He was the 1986 Southern All Star Rookie of the Year as well as a top-five finisher in National 100, Dixie Shootout, Hillbilly 100. He was a two-time World 100 starter.

Knowles, whose son Jake Knowles followed his tire tracks as a successful racer, was a three-time Southern All Star winner along with Hav-A-Tampa victories at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City and Waycross (Ga.) Speedway. Other major victories included Dixie's Pepsi 200, North Georgia Speedway's Grant Adcox Memorial, Lanier Speedway's Winston 200 and a Florida Speedweeks victory in Lake City.

Four other Georgians will join Holmes in the Hall of Fame's 2020 class: Gene White (late IndyCar team owner), Ray Stonkus (late stock car crew chief and chassis builder), Scott Russell (motorcycle racer) and Mike Rich (late crew member for NASCAR driver Bill Elliott).

The induction ceremony, originally planned for June, is uncertain because of coronavirus restrictions, but watch georgiaracinghof.com for updates.