Racers

Russell Baker Hall of Fame Induction | Ozarks Area Racers Foundation | 40+ Years Engine Buildingnnemotional induction of Russell Baker into the Springfield Racing Hall of Fame as a pioneer. The legendary self-taught engine builder from Miami, Oklahoma, who founded Russell Baker Racing Engines, is honored by his daughters Angie Haye and Alicia Trice, and son Brian Baker for his 40+ year career building championship-winning late model racing engines.nIn this video:nnDaughters share their father’s inspiring life story and faith journeynBrian Baker accepts award on behalf of his father and familynHow Russell overcame losing his right eye at age 4nBuilt legendary engines for Bill Frye, Billy Moyer, Wendell Wallace, Dale McDowelln40+ years of precision engine building excellencenDeep faith, family values, and passion for deer huntingnTerry Kirk’s tragic passing the night before Russell’s funeralnnRussell Baker’s incredible journey:nnLost right eye at age 4 – shaped his determination and perseverancenEntirely self-taught engine builder (no formal training)nStarted in early 1980s as pioneer of late model racing enginesnFirst shop: Small parts room in back of BMB Auto Supply, Miami, OklahomanBuilt 7,200 sq ft dedicated engine shop east of MiaminLater moved to even larger facility on family farm west of MiaminOver 40 years building and tuning championship racing enginesnKnown for precision, innovation, reliability, and performancenMentored countless others in the engine building craftnnFaith and family foundation:nnMarried Shannon in 1964 (47-year devoted partnership)nRaised three children grounded in faith and hard worknAccepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as young fathernFaith became foundation of his life and businessnAlways stopped work on Sundays for the LordnMade sure children knew Christ was “first and foremost”nPassed away in 2012nnBeyond the shop:nnAvid bow hunter who spent entire days in tree standsn”Famously wished there were 12 months of November”nExcellent bow hunter who shared passion with grandchildrennTaught patience, respect for nature, quiet perseverancenCreated lasting memories deer hunting with Luke, Adam, Kyle, and ShelbynSon Brian now hunts for a living, inspired by his fathernnRacing legends Russell worked with:nnBill Frye (good friend)nBilly Moyer (championship driver)nWendell Wallace (deer hunting buddy from Batesville, Arkansas)nDale McDowell (champion)nTim Logan (dedicated customer)nSteve Francis (friend and racer)nTerry Kirk (Custom Cams – phone call buddy after every race)nnKey employees and friends:nnCharlie Novak (right-hand man, talented go-to guy for everything)nDan Leatherman (hardcore racer friend till the end)nDavid Turner (squirrelly but loved friend)nJim Buzzard (fellow engine builder, got Russell to his last race at Muscogee)nnEmotional final race story:nnRussell went from climbing deer stands to wheelchair in 3 monthsnJim Buzzard prepared his motorhomenUsed forklift to load wheelchair into motorhomenGot to watch his final race at Muscogee before passingnnRussell’s character:nnMan of few words, but when he spoke, people listenednMan of his word (what people remember most)nFamous side smile and eye squintnHumble – would have been honored but quiet about recognitionnBalanced faith, family, deer hunting, and racing perfectlyn”With his living, we all are who we are”nnTracks mentioned:nnMonett SpeedwaynWheatlandnJoplinnShow-Me 100nEldora SpeedwaynnA powerful tribute to a self-taught pioneer who overcame early hardship to build one of late model racing’s most respected engine shops while never compromising his faith, family values, or love of the outdoors.n#RussellBaker #BakerRacingEngines #MiamiOklahoma #HallOfFame #EngineBuilder #LateModelRacing #BillyMoyer #BillFrye #WendellWallace #DaleMcDowell #RacingPioneer #SelfTaught #ChampionshipEngines #CustomCams #TerryKirk #InMemoriam #FaithAndRacing #DeerHunter #40YearLegacy #OklahomaRacing”,”delight_ranges”:[],”image_ranges”:[],”inline_style_ranges”:[],”aggregated_ranges”:[],”ranges”:[{“entity”:{“__typename”:”User”,”__isEntity”:”User”,”__isActor”:”User”,”id”:”100064504972213″,”url”:”https://www.facebook.com/OzarkAreaRacersFoundation”,”profile_url”:”https://www.facebook.com/OzarkAreaRacersFoundation”,”short_name”:”Ozarks Area Racers Foundation”,”work_info”:null,”__module_operation_CometTextWithEntitiesRelay_textWithEntities”:{“__dr”:”ProfileGeminiWeakReferenceLink_user$normalization.graphql

Russell Baker Hall of Fame Induction | Ozarks Area Racers Foundation | 40+ Years Engine Buildingnnemotional induction of Russell Baker into the Springfield Racing Hall of Fame as a pioneer. The legendary self-taught engine builder from Miami, Oklahoma, who founded Russell Baker Racing Engines, is honored by his daughters Angie Haye and Alicia Trice, and son Brian Baker for his 40+ year career building championship-winning late model racing engines.nIn this video:nnDaughters share their father’s inspiring life story and faith journeynBrian Baker accepts award on behalf of his father and familynHow Russell overcame losing his right eye at age 4nBuilt legendary engines for Bill Frye, Billy Moyer, Wendell Wallace, Dale McDowelln40+ years of precision engine building excellencenDeep faith, family values, and passion for deer huntingnTerry Kirk’s tragic passing the night before Russell’s funeralnnRussell Baker’s incredible journey:nnLost right eye at age 4 – shaped his determination and perseverancenEntirely self-taught engine builder (no formal training)nStarted in early 1980s as pioneer of late model racing enginesnFirst shop: Small parts room in back of BMB Auto Supply, Miami, OklahomanBuilt 7,200 sq ft dedicated engine shop east of MiaminLater moved to even larger facility on family farm west of MiaminOver 40 years building and tuning championship racing enginesnKnown for precision, innovation, reliability, and performancenMentored countless others in the engine building craftnnFaith and family foundation:nnMarried Shannon in 1964 (47-year devoted partnership)nRaised three children grounded in faith and hard worknAccepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as young fathernFaith became foundation of his life and businessnAlways stopped work on Sundays for the LordnMade sure children knew Christ was