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MONTEREY, Calif. — The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America announced that Joe Boyer and Bill Holland are the Historic Category Inductees in the Hall’s 38th Induction class.
The announcement was made Saturday at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The induction will take place in March.
Boyer and Holland join seven other members of the Class of 2026 who were announced in April at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Stock Cars), Steve Gibbs (Drag Racing), Pete Lyons (Media), John Morton (Sports Cars), Kenny Roberts, Jr. (Motorcycles), Sammy Swindell (Open Wheel) and Dave Villwock (Powerboats).
The 38th Annual MSHFA Induction Ceremony Presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing takes place March 9 – 10, 2026 at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.
The Historic Category is for nominees whose main motorsports achievements occurred prior to 1960. Induction is decided by 40+ historians, authors and experts.
The other seven categories are decided by a straight vote among 200+ voters, half of them motorsports journalists, historians and other experts, the other half inductees themselves.
“We are delighted to be welcomed back to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and to recognize another pair of American racing legends who have earned their place in the Hall of Fame of all American motorsports,” said MSHFA president George Levy.
IMSA President John Doonan, who made the announcement at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on behalf of the Hall, added, “It’s always special when we can look deeper into the history books and recognize those that have forged a path for all of us in modern motorsports. Through their grit and personal perseverance, they’ve created a route for extraordinary men and women to excel, grow, and validate the beloved world of motorsports as we know it.”
Boyer (1890-1924) is the only person to win the Indianapolis 500 and APBA Gold Cup. Boyer gained fame as a member of the Frontenac and Duesenberg teams from 1916 to 1924.
If Boyer didn’t win, it was often because his cars failed while upfront. In 1921 he was leading teammate Jimmy Murphy in the French Grand Prix when a connecting rod failed 12 laps from the end.
His 1924 Indy 500 win came after he took over teammate L.L. Corum’s car on lap 109. Car owner Fred Duesenberg said, “Put that ship out front or burn it up.” He moved the car from fourth to first in 70 laps to take the checker, becoming the first official “relief” driver credited with the win in the 500.
Tragically, he was killed three months later while racing wheel-to-wheel with Murphy at the Altoona, Pa., board track. Murphy was killed a week later.
Holland (1907-1984) assembled one of the most impressive Indianapolis 500 resumes ever: In five starts, Philadelphia-born Holland scored a win (1949) and three seconds (1947-8, 1950). He nearly won his rookie race (1947).
The fastest qualifier, he led comfortably until shortly before the end when the Lou Moore outfit held out the “EZY” sign for him and teammate Mauri Rose. Holland obliged, Rose didn’t.
Holland might’ve had more success but lost the 1952 and ’53 seasons to a suspension for participating in a three-lap 1951 NASCAR charity event.
In AAA Eastern sprint car racing, he finished third in 1939, second in 1940 and captured the title in 1941. In AAA National Championship racing, he was second in 1947 and third in ‘49.
