The Team Penske Hall of Fame announced its 10th class of inductees on December 4, with John Woodard and the late Roy McCauley honored for their outstanding impact at a celebration in Mooresville, NC. The recognition reflected their long-standing dedication to Team Penske and upheld the organization’s core belief that “Effort Equals Results,” a sentiment echoed by focus keyword Team Penske Hall of Fame throughout the ceremony.
Ceremony Honors Two New Inductees
The holiday event paid tribute to both Woodard and McCauley, underscoring their commitment to the team’s growth and ongoing legacy. Roger Penske presented custom awards, taking up to 100 hours to craft in the team’s own machine shop, to Woodard and McCauley’s parents, Kirk and Susie. The Team Penske Hall of Fame, established in 2016, continues to celebrate those who have made significant contributions to the organization’s sixty-year history.
A Winning Season for Penske Teams
The evening also marked another successful racing year, as Porsche Penske Motorsport claimed its second straight IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. Since 2019, Team Penske has secured four of these prestigious titles. The squad also celebrated a strong showing in endurance racing, earning another IMSA Michelin Endurance Challenge title, a repeat triumph in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and its first win since 2008 in the 12 Hours of Sebring.
John Woodard’s Two Decades of Innovation and Achievement
John Woodard joined Team Penske in January 1969, immediately becoming a key player in a team that won the Trans-Am Series with Mark Donohue. Over the following years, Woodard contributed to further victories, including George Follmer’s Can-Am title in 1972 and another Canadian–American sports car win for Donohue in 1973. Between 1973 and 1975, Woodard helped secure six NASCAR Cup Series wins and introduced technical innovation as the first NASCAR mechanic to field a Grand National race car with four-wheel disc brakes.
Woodard’s reach extended across Team Penske’s INDYCAR, NASCAR, and Sports Car groups, where he worked on vehicles for 18 different drivers. He contributed to four Indianapolis 500 wins for the team and was an essential part of the crew that won the Indianapolis 500 Pit Stop Challenge five times as right-side tire changer. After retiring from active motorsport in 1989, Woodard stayed with the Penske organization, taking on important roles in Penske GM Power, Penske Power Systems, and Penske Truck Leasing.
“When I joined Team Penske, it was a very small group of determined people that expected to have success,”
said Woodard.
“Yet, we could never have imagined that there would be a need for a hall of fame due to everything that this team has accomplished over the course of 60 years. I think I can speak for all of us that were a part of the early years that we are honored that everyone that came after us kept that same determined drive for excellence. It’s why we are still regularly winning races and championships. Thank you to everyone for allowing me to become part of the Team Penske Hall of Fame. I consider it one of my highest honors.”
– John Woodard, Team Penske mechanic and Hall of Fame inductee
Roy McCauley’s Technical Leadership and Legacy
The late Roy McCauley began his tenure in Team Penske’s engineering department in 2003. After the 2004 season, McCauley advanced to crew chief for the part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series team with Ryan Newman. In 2005, his leadership led the No. 39 team to six wins—five of which came in consecutive races—and numerous top-five finishes and pole positions. This success propelled McCauley to a full-time crew chief role in the NASCAR Cup Series with Kurt Busch in 2006, earning a win at Bristol, six poles, and additional top-five results.
In 2008, McCauley reunited with Ryan Newman, guiding the No. 12 team to deliver Team Penske’s first-ever Daytona 500 win in the race’s 50th anniversary running. He remained crew chief through 2009 before taking on the role of assembly group manager in 2010, a position he held until his untimely passing in 2024.
“Roy was so proud to work for Team Penske,”
said Kirk McCauley.
“He worked for other teams before getting the opportunity and after seeing how the team operated from a distance it drew him to want to work for Mr. Penske. It meant so much to him to have helped lead the No. 12 team to the win in the 50th Daytona 500. I know he feels the same way about being voted into the Team Penske Hall of Fame.”
– Kirk McCauley, Roy McCauley’s father
Joining an Esteemed Group of Inductees
Woodard and McCauley now stand alongside notable Team Penske Hall of Fame members such as Roger Penske, Mark Donohue, Rick Mears, Karl Kainhofer, Rusty Wallace, Walter Czarnecki, Don Miller, Dan Luginbuhl, Helio Castroneves, Tim Cindric, Jerry Breon, Larry Bluth, Clive Howell, Nick Goozee, Jay Signore, Gil de Ferran, and Tim Lombardi. Each of these individuals has contributed their distinct talents, shaping Team Penske’s reputation for excellence in motorsports.
A Tradition of Recognizing Excellence
The foundation of the Team Penske Hall of Fame in 2016 coincided with the organization’s 50th anniversary. Every year, inductees are selected from among drivers, employees, and partners who have significantly influenced the team’s legacy. Those honored are celebrated both at the annual event and permanently within the Mooresville headquarters.
The ongoing recognition of figures like Woodard and McCauley affirms Team Penske’s ongoing commitment to its people and its relentless pursuit of success in racing, as demonstrated in both past accomplishments and its championship-winning present. The Team Penske Hall of Fame continues to inspire all team members to aim for new heights, ensuring the legacy of excellence persists for generations to come.
