Saturday evening the National Motorsports Press Association gathered for their annual Hall of Fame Induction dinner. Held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Concord, N.C., three of the sport's finest were honored by their peers for their lifetime achievements. Groundbreaking journalist Chris Economaki, legendary team owner Junie Donlavey and the late, great photographer T. (Thomas) Taylor Warren received the honor before a packed house.

Known as the "dean" of motorsports journalism, Economaki has been a staple in the sport of auto racing for over seventy years now. The New Jersey-native became the editor of the National Speed Sport News in 1950, worked on ABC's Wide World of Sports, as well as cut his teeth as a track announcer. The 87-year-old Economaki is as knowledgeable and sharp as ever and is truly one of the greatest minds to have graced motorsports.

Starting his career as a car owner in the same year Economaki became editor at the National Speed Sport News, Junie Donlavey embarked on a career that would be one for the record books. The 84-year-old former car owner was introduced by his former driver Ken Schrader and proudly accepted the award amidst applause. In fifty-two years as a car owner, Donlavey made 863 starts, earning only one victory with Jody Ridley behind the wheel at Dover in 1981

Arguably the premier NASCAR photographer, T. Taylor Warren spent sixty years documenting the sport he loved through his camera lens.  Warren, who passed away on October 8, 2008, captured the finish of the inaugural Daytona 500 in a snapshot. That famous photograph led NASCAR officials to determine Lee Petty the winner over Johnny Beauchamp in the ultimate photo-finish.

These three men helped make NASCAR the sport it is today. Economaki, Donlavey and Warren took a love of racing and created a lifetime of achievements. Being honored by the NMPA Saturday night, those achievements will live on for many years to come.