Hall of Fame
Joplin's Fred Tullis, Sr. cut a wide swath in local and area auto racing on dirt tracks in teh 1960s and 1970s.
Tullis left a depp impression on local racing historian Tim Belk. "It wasn't just thw wins," Belk said.
"He was a clean driver," Belk added. "He drove 100 percent from start to finish."
Tullis, who was born in Iowa City in 1935, died of a heart attack in 1994. He was stricken while working in the pits at the Nevada Speedway.
Tullis was a modified points champion at Joplin Ozark Speedway in 1965 and at Neosho 71 Speedway in 1968. He was a late model champion in 1970 at Joplin and again at both Joplin and 71 Speedway in 1974.
Three other times he was a runner-up in points and twice was named most popular driver.
Tullis was inducted inot the Springfield-based Ozark Area Racers Foundation Hall of Fame in 2006.
