DETROIT – Jim Campbell, General Motors US Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, served as the Honorary Chairman of the 24th Annual Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Induction Ceremony at the historic Fillmore Theater in downtown Detroit.
As Honorary Chairman, Campbell presided over the formal black-tie ceremony and deliver the evening's keynote address prior to the official inductions of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America's 2012 class. This year's list of motorsports legends that will be enshrined into the Hall includes sports car racing champion and five-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Derek Bell, popular NASCAR "Alabama Gang" driver Neil Bonnett, motorsports pioneer Pop Dreyer, high-performance innovator Vic Edelbrock, Sr., motocross and supercross champion Ricky Johnson, ace engine builder Ed Pink and IndyCar champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan.
In his current position, Campbell is responsible for integrating the engineering and marketing of performance versions of current production models in addition to all motorsports activities.
"I've always loved high-performance cars and the link to racing," Campbell said. "I've had the opportunity for many, many years to be part of terrific race programs that won key races and won many manufacturers' and drivers' championships and I am very proud to go to work every day."
Campbell has been interested in racing and performance vehicles for as long as he can remember.
"My interest in performance cars and racing started when I was a kid," Campbell said. "I've always loved Corvettes and Camaros."
Campbell turned that love into a career when he joined General Motors as an intern in 1987. By 1999 he was the brand manager for Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro. It was in that role that Campbell was part of the team that started the Corvette Racing program, which competes in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and has since won its class in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times.
"Chevrolet has one of the widest portfolios in racing programs in the automotive industry, particularly in North America, and we're one of the winningest brands in terms of race wins, manufacturers' championships and drivers' championships," Campbell said.
Campbell and his team more recently brought Chevrolet back into Indy car racing. The Chevrolet IndyCar V6 2.2 liter direct injected twin turbo charged purpose built racing engine won eight of the first 12 races in 2012. Chevrolet currently leads both the manufacturers' and driver standings.
This season also marked the debut of the highly anticipated Corvette Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. The Corvette Daytona Prototype has earned six wins, so far, in its first season of competition.
The 2012 season also saw the introduction of the COPO Camaro that competes in the NHRA Stock Eliminator classes.
In addition, Campbell oversees a NASCAR program that has won 35 manufacturer's championships and each of the last seven driver championships.
The accomplished Class of 2012 includes event attendees Ed Pink (Drag Racing), Derek Bell (Sports Cars) and Ricky Johnson (Motorcycles) who were joined by friends and family members that touchingly memorialized and enshrined deceased inductees Pop Dreyer (Historic), Neil Bonnett (Stock Cars) and Vic Edelbrock, Sr. (At Large). Inductee Danny Sullivan (Indy Cars) was forced to miss the event after an unexpected schedule change kept him in England on a television shoot, but he was capably represented by AutoWeek Editor and Associate Publisher Dutch Mandel who both inducted and accepted the honor for his friend and the 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner.
For details of the event and lots more photos Check out the Motorsports Hall of Fame Site at www.mshf.com