Former State Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) denied on Tuesday knowledge of a rumored grand jury investigation regarding his tenure on the embattled Motorsports Hall of Fame Commission, but said he was still considering a 2026 run for State Senate.
Governor Kay Ivey recently dismissed and replaced the entire appointed Motor Sports Hall of Fame Commission, including Dial, the former board chairman, according to Alabama Daily News.
Karen Lakey, former Motorsports Hall of Fame Commission accounts manager, allegedly stole $236,610 from the Commission. The theft was revealed in an audit released by the Alabama Department of Public Examiners, which detailed numerous improprieties, and is being investigated by the Attorney General's Office.
Other findings from the report include a former Motorsports Hall of Fame executive director purchasing a 1968 Camaro Convertible pace car from the Commission for $15,000 in April 2023. The Commission indicated to auditors that the vehicle was advertised for bid and that the former executive director was the only individual who bid on it. The Commission placed an advertisement in a local newspaper stating that bids were being accepted for a "1968 Chevrolet." The advertisement provided no additional information regarding the car, including the model, according to the audit.
The spouse of the former executive director also purchased a 1998 Ford F-150 truck from the Commission for $1,000.00 in March 2024.
Dial denied any knowledge of any rumored grand jury investigation into his tenure on the Motorsports Hall of Fame Commission.
"I can't understand why they haven't arrested that woman. All the evidence that's there. If you rob a bank, they go out and arrest you the next day, and she basically robbed the bank, and they've not done anything. It's kind of weird," Dial told 1819 News on Tuesday. "Ever since I announced I might run for my office, there's been all kinds of rumors about me. I think there's some people in Montgomery that would be real frightened if I came back."
Dial, 88, has said he is considering a run for State Senate District 13, currently held by State Sen. Randy Price (R-Opelika).
"We keep getting phone calls from people in the district encouraging us to run," Dial told 1819 News on Tuesday. "We haven't made a decision yet. They're going to do a poll, probably starting next week. We're going to look at it. We haven't made any decisions, yes or no. We haven't ruled it out, but I guess you'd say it's 50/50 right now. We're looking at our options and all those things."
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