BELLEVILLE, Kan. — The 2026 High Banks Hall of Fame induction class includes racers from many different forms of dirt track and pavement racing disciplines.
Kansans Delbert Smith and Luke Cranston are joined by Nebraska’s Don Droud Sr. and Missouri’s Ray Boyles.
As well as Illinois’s Don Lehmann, Colorado’s Scott Hersh, and Arizona native Dan Drinan in this group of distinguished racing personalities.
Delbert Smith: Known as “The Iceman”, Kansan Delbert Smiths racing career features a five decade run that includes over 300 wins in stock car competition. The late model stalwart took 20 of those victories with the NCRA, and another 11 with the MDLMS series.
Luke Cranston: Ness City, Kansas, native Luke Cranston has been one of the top performers in winged sprint car racing at Belleville over the last decade plus. Cranston won 9 feature events in the URSS 305 series, including the Belleville 305 nationals in 2021, paying 7,000 dollars to the Western, Kansas, gasser.
Don Droud Sr: The patriarch of the Droud racing clan out of Nebraska that includes sons Don Jr. and Rodney, raced for over sixty years in motorcycles, car racing, and vintage racing meets. Don raced non winged sprints at Belleville during the BCRA era, and also excelled in winged sprint cars as well before passing in 2022.
Ray Boyles: Missouri’s Ray Boyles has been involved in racing since the 1940’s helping out first his uncle Junior Hower, before later venturing out as a owner with his wife Sandy in micro, mini sprint and midget competition. With his son Joe behind the wheel they would win 3 SMRS Midget titles, and star at the Chili Bowl as well.
Don Lehmann: Illinois midget chauffeur Don “Donnie” Lehmann starred in midget racing competition with clubs that included MARA, Badger, and USAC. The Land of Lincoln racer would go on championship win streaks of both three in a row, and four in row, in MARA competition racing into the new millennium.
Scott Hersh: Scott Hersh and his father Hank combined together to win RMMRA Midget titles as owners from 1977-1982, and then again in 1984 and 1987 with driver Mike Gregg. The Colorado race team would win 62 RMMRA midget features during that time. With their win at the Belleville Nationals in 1981 being the crown jewel.
Dan Drinan: Arizona Native Dan Drinan, now of Indianapolis, was a star on the track in midget racing competition running 130 series starts in USAC. Highlighted by his victory at the Copper World classic in 1995. Dan would also race in 26 Silver Crown races during his career as a driver. Off the track Drinan is known as an innovative craftsman building midgets and silver crown machines that were very successful.
The High Banks Hall of Fame Ceremony will be Saturday, August 1 at the Republic County High School in Belleville, Kansas.