By Matt Wolfe

Following his induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2015, Roger Penske was inducted into the Sports Car Club of America Hall of Fame with the class of 2016. Penske was officially inducted back in January during the SCCA’s 2016 National Convention in Las Vegas. “It’s interesting,” Penske said. “When I think about my racing career and I think about my business career, the SCCA was right in the middle of it. It really made the difference.”

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 1963: Roger Penske poses with his John Mecom Racing Ferrari 250 GTO before the Daytona Continental Sports Car race at Daytona International Speedway. Penske finished second in the race behind a similar Ferrari driven by Pedro Rodriguez. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

Penske now joins 62 other inductees that have amplified the SCCA’s importance in the world of motorsports over the club’s 70-year existence. Lisa Noble, SCCA President and CEO, opened the induction ceremony by noting how special the Hall of Fame is to the Club; “This evening is meaningful for us. We get to celebrate our legacy and our future with these great awards we are presenting this evening.”Before becoming one of the most successful businessmen and team owners in motorsports, Roger Penske began his racing career with the SCCA. During his SCCA career Penske claimed three National Championships, three President’s Cup awards, and was named Sports Illustrated’s “SCCA Driver of the Year.” Penske retired from racing in 1965 and began to focus on his business interests and racing team. Penske’s team would amass numerous victories in SCCA Trans-Am with fellow SCCA Hall of Famer Mark Donohue at the wheel of the legendary Sunoco Camaro. Donohue was also the first Team Penske driver to win an Indianapolis 500, a race Penske has now won an unprecedented 16 times.