Michael F. Hollander
18th January 2007, 01:38
Grand-Am/ALMS Join to Salute Champion Road Racers
INDIANAPOLIS – Tony Schumacher, who won his third consecutive NHRA Top Fuel championship on the last pass at the season’s last race in one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, was announced as recipient of the Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy for 2006 at Saturday night’s 37th annual American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association’s All-America Team dinner.
Jack Roush, one of NASCAR’s most successful and influential team owners, was the featured speaker. Approximately 250 members, guests and VIPs were in attendance at the Hyatt Regency ballroom in downtown Indianapolis for the ceremonies. Members of AARWBA, the country’s oldest and largest organization of motorsports media professionals, annually elect drivers to the Team from seven categories: Stock car, open-wheel, drag racing, road racing, short track, touring series and at-large. The Titus is named in honor of the late AARWBA member journalist and professional racer and the unique trophy features his typewriter and helmet. Schumacher accepted from AARWBA President Dusty Brandel, who said, “Tony’s comeback to win the NHRA Top Fuel championship was the stuff of legends, the kind of story that captures the imagination of fans and media alike.”
“Winning the Jerry Titus Trophy is definitely a big moment in my career,” said Schumacher. “I got a chance recently to look at the list of previous winners and the names there were just stunning – Al Unser, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt were just a few that popped off the page. To become a member of such an elite club is awesome.”
Schumacher becomes just the fourth drag racer to earn AARWBA’s No. 1 honor, joining Don Prudhomme (1976), Shirley Muldowney (1982), and John Force (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002). Muldowney was the only previous recipient from the Top Fuel class.
In honor of Schumacher, now a four-time All-America Team member and Top Fuel titlist, the Titus Trophy will go on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, CA. It will be showcased there beginning with NHRA’s annual “Night of Champions” on Friday, Feb. 9.
NHRA Funny Car champion John Force – attending his record 11th AARWBA All-America dinner – claimed his 14th Team “Horsepower” trophy in the drag racing category. Also on-hand were: Indy 500 winner/IRL title-holder Sam Hornish Jr. and triple Champ Car World Series titlist Sebastien Bourdais (open wheel); Rolex sports car Daytona Prototype and ALMS GT2 champion Jorg Bergmeister, ALMS LMP1 co-champ Rinaldo Capello and Grand-Am Rolex runners-up Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz (road racing); eight-time ARCA stock car king Frank Kimmel (touring series); and Formula Ford 2000 champion J.R. Hildebrand (at-large). Other drivers elected to the Team were: Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart (stock car); Todd Bodine (touring); Allan McNish (road racing); Josh Wise and Donny Schatz (short track); and Travis Pastrana (at-large).
In a demonstration of respect for their drivers and AARWBA, the Grand-American Road Racing Association and the American Le Mans Series joined to co-host a unified “Road Racing Champions” table, which was positioned directly in front of the podium. “I want to congratulate Grand-Am President Roger Edmondson, ALMS President Scott Atherton, plus public relations directors Adam Saal and Bob Dickinson, for working with me to make this happen,” said Michael Knight, the dinner co-chairman. “It’s an important moment, and sends a powerful message, one that I believe will be recognized and appreciated throughout the motorsports industry. Well done, gentlemen.”
Several special awards were presented, including:
Dusty Brandel President’s Award: Michael F. Hollander, pioneer on-line journalist and current AARWBA national vice president, received the honor from AARWBA President Dusty Brandel. Hollander has long played a major role in the organization and served as producer of the All-America Team ceremonies. He is editor of Racing Information Systems and operates The Motor Sports Forum (motorsportsforum.com).
Jim Chapman Award: Kevin Kennedy, executive vice president of PCGCampbell and long-time Ford Racing media representative, received the honor for excellence in motorsports public relations. It is named in memory of Chapman, the late legendary PR executive, who was Babe Ruth’s PR rep and director of racing for CART series sponsor PPG Industries. Chapman began his PR career at Ford. Kennedy was chosen by a blue-ribbon committee of journalists, all of whom knew Chapman. The plaque was presented by dinner co-chairman Michael Knight and Associated Press’ motorsports writer Mike Harris, both close friends of Chapman.
Pioneer In Racing Award: Dan Partel, managing director of the European Formula Drivers Association, received this traditional AARWBA honor. It was presented by dinner co-chairman Gil Bouffard. EFDA helped launch the careers of drivers such as Ayrton Senna, Gil de Ferran, Tony Kanaan, Buddy Rice, Rubens Barrichello and Jorg Bergmeister.
Gorsline Scholarship: This annual scholarship, from insurance executive John Gorsline, went to J.R. Hildebrand. The scholarship furthers the careers of young drivers. Hildebrand won 12 of 14 Formula Ford 2000 races in 2006, with 10 poles. Partel presented the scholarship on behalf of Gorsline.
Safety and Humanitarian Service Award: This first-time award went to HANS Device developers Jim Downing and Robert Hubbard of Michigan State University. The HANS has been a great advance in driver safety and is now mandatory in virtually every major racing series. The honor was presented by Gil Bouffard.
In addition to Roush, industry VIPs on hand included: USAC Chairman John Capels, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Joie Chitwood, Indy Racing League President Brian Barnhart, Audi Motorsports North America head Rod Bymaster, Fernandez Racing co-owner Tom Anderson, Champ Car World Series Vice President Garret Mudd, Don Schumacher Racing Senior Vice President Mike Lewis, retired Indianapolis and Daytona Speedway President John Cooper, Indy Pro Series champion Jay Howard, Formula Atlantic managing director Vicki O’Connor and driver Simona De Sivestro, famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. Terry Trammell, and Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers Club Executive Director Jack Martin.
Michael Knight and Gil Bouffard were the dinner co-chairs. Popular announcer Bob Jenkins was Master of Ceremonies.
INDIANAPOLIS – Tony Schumacher, who won his third consecutive NHRA Top Fuel championship on the last pass at the season’s last race in one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, was announced as recipient of the Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy for 2006 at Saturday night’s 37th annual American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association’s All-America Team dinner.
Jack Roush, one of NASCAR’s most successful and influential team owners, was the featured speaker. Approximately 250 members, guests and VIPs were in attendance at the Hyatt Regency ballroom in downtown Indianapolis for the ceremonies. Members of AARWBA, the country’s oldest and largest organization of motorsports media professionals, annually elect drivers to the Team from seven categories: Stock car, open-wheel, drag racing, road racing, short track, touring series and at-large. The Titus is named in honor of the late AARWBA member journalist and professional racer and the unique trophy features his typewriter and helmet. Schumacher accepted from AARWBA President Dusty Brandel, who said, “Tony’s comeback to win the NHRA Top Fuel championship was the stuff of legends, the kind of story that captures the imagination of fans and media alike.”
“Winning the Jerry Titus Trophy is definitely a big moment in my career,” said Schumacher. “I got a chance recently to look at the list of previous winners and the names there were just stunning – Al Unser, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt were just a few that popped off the page. To become a member of such an elite club is awesome.”
Schumacher becomes just the fourth drag racer to earn AARWBA’s No. 1 honor, joining Don Prudhomme (1976), Shirley Muldowney (1982), and John Force (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002). Muldowney was the only previous recipient from the Top Fuel class.
In honor of Schumacher, now a four-time All-America Team member and Top Fuel titlist, the Titus Trophy will go on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, CA. It will be showcased there beginning with NHRA’s annual “Night of Champions” on Friday, Feb. 9.
NHRA Funny Car champion John Force – attending his record 11th AARWBA All-America dinner – claimed his 14th Team “Horsepower” trophy in the drag racing category. Also on-hand were: Indy 500 winner/IRL title-holder Sam Hornish Jr. and triple Champ Car World Series titlist Sebastien Bourdais (open wheel); Rolex sports car Daytona Prototype and ALMS GT2 champion Jorg Bergmeister, ALMS LMP1 co-champ Rinaldo Capello and Grand-Am Rolex runners-up Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz (road racing); eight-time ARCA stock car king Frank Kimmel (touring series); and Formula Ford 2000 champion J.R. Hildebrand (at-large). Other drivers elected to the Team were: Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart (stock car); Todd Bodine (touring); Allan McNish (road racing); Josh Wise and Donny Schatz (short track); and Travis Pastrana (at-large).
In a demonstration of respect for their drivers and AARWBA, the Grand-American Road Racing Association and the American Le Mans Series joined to co-host a unified “Road Racing Champions” table, which was positioned directly in front of the podium. “I want to congratulate Grand-Am President Roger Edmondson, ALMS President Scott Atherton, plus public relations directors Adam Saal and Bob Dickinson, for working with me to make this happen,” said Michael Knight, the dinner co-chairman. “It’s an important moment, and sends a powerful message, one that I believe will be recognized and appreciated throughout the motorsports industry. Well done, gentlemen.”
Several special awards were presented, including:
Dusty Brandel President’s Award: Michael F. Hollander, pioneer on-line journalist and current AARWBA national vice president, received the honor from AARWBA President Dusty Brandel. Hollander has long played a major role in the organization and served as producer of the All-America Team ceremonies. He is editor of Racing Information Systems and operates The Motor Sports Forum (motorsportsforum.com).
Jim Chapman Award: Kevin Kennedy, executive vice president of PCGCampbell and long-time Ford Racing media representative, received the honor for excellence in motorsports public relations. It is named in memory of Chapman, the late legendary PR executive, who was Babe Ruth’s PR rep and director of racing for CART series sponsor PPG Industries. Chapman began his PR career at Ford. Kennedy was chosen by a blue-ribbon committee of journalists, all of whom knew Chapman. The plaque was presented by dinner co-chairman Michael Knight and Associated Press’ motorsports writer Mike Harris, both close friends of Chapman.
Pioneer In Racing Award: Dan Partel, managing director of the European Formula Drivers Association, received this traditional AARWBA honor. It was presented by dinner co-chairman Gil Bouffard. EFDA helped launch the careers of drivers such as Ayrton Senna, Gil de Ferran, Tony Kanaan, Buddy Rice, Rubens Barrichello and Jorg Bergmeister.
Gorsline Scholarship: This annual scholarship, from insurance executive John Gorsline, went to J.R. Hildebrand. The scholarship furthers the careers of young drivers. Hildebrand won 12 of 14 Formula Ford 2000 races in 2006, with 10 poles. Partel presented the scholarship on behalf of Gorsline.
Safety and Humanitarian Service Award: This first-time award went to HANS Device developers Jim Downing and Robert Hubbard of Michigan State University. The HANS has been a great advance in driver safety and is now mandatory in virtually every major racing series. The honor was presented by Gil Bouffard.
In addition to Roush, industry VIPs on hand included: USAC Chairman John Capels, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Joie Chitwood, Indy Racing League President Brian Barnhart, Audi Motorsports North America head Rod Bymaster, Fernandez Racing co-owner Tom Anderson, Champ Car World Series Vice President Garret Mudd, Don Schumacher Racing Senior Vice President Mike Lewis, retired Indianapolis and Daytona Speedway President John Cooper, Indy Pro Series champion Jay Howard, Formula Atlantic managing director Vicki O’Connor and driver Simona De Sivestro, famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. Terry Trammell, and Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers Club Executive Director Jack Martin.
Michael Knight and Gil Bouffard were the dinner co-chairs. Popular announcer Bob Jenkins was Master of Ceremonies.