© The Official Newsletter Of The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association June 2015 Vol. 48 No. 4 Congratulations to Juan Pablo Montoya Winner of the 2015 Indy 500 Photo by Jason Porter Courtesy IMS American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 2014 AARWBA CONTEST WINNERS (presented at AARWBA awards breakfast, May 23, 2015, Indianapolis, Ind.) MOTORSPORT BOOK 1. Tammy Kaehler, "Avoidable Contact," Poisoned Pen Press 2. No award 3. No award NEWSPAPER NEWS WRITING 1. Nicholas Dettmann, "Gaughan Wins for 1st Time," West Bend Daily News 2. Scott Walsh, "Junior Completes Season Sweep," Scranton Times-Tribune 3. Ron Hedger, "Friesen Wins Thriller," Schenectady Daily Gazette Honorable Mention: Bill Sessa, "Defending AMA Cham- Honorable Mention: Mary Bignotti Mendez, "IndyCar Gets It pion Baker Wins," Napa Valley Register Right," Inside Track Motorsport News NEWSPAPER FEATURE WRITING MAGAZINE TECHNICAL WRITING 1. Louise Ann Noeth, "Women in Drag Racing: Hear Honorable Mention: Bruce A. Bennett, "Swayin' in the Them Roar," New York Times Wind," Speedway Illustrated 2. Scott Walsh, "Trading Punches for Pedals," Scranton Times-Tribune ONLINE NEWS WRITING 3. Nicholas Dettmann, "The Legacy of Slinger," West 1. Patrick Reynolds, "'American Boy' Wins Indianapolis Bend Daily News 500," Motorweeklive.com 2. Ron Hedger, "Hearn Steals Sixth Moody Mile 358 Tro- NEWSPAPER COLUMN WRITING phy," Nationalspeedsportnews.com 1. Scott Walsh, "Gordon Is NASCAR's Derek Jeter," 3. Kay Presto, "Surprising Win for Mike Conway," Scranton Sunday Times Carsandcompetition.com 2. Nicholas Dettmann, "Bucher Wins 1st Career Race," West Bend Daily News ONLINE FEATURE WRITING 3. Jan Wagner, "IndyCar Season Finale," Armed Forc- 1. Kay Presto, "John Force - Always Charging Forward," es Dispatch Carsandcompetition.com 2. Nicholas Dettmann, "Hinchcliffe Excited for Elkhart Lake NEWSPAPER TECHNICAL WRITING Return," Nationalspeedsportnews.com 1. Scott Walsh, "Weathering the Elements," Scranton 3. Michael C. Johnson, "The 34th Best Seat at the Indianap- Sunday Times olis 500," Motorsport.com 2. No award 3. No award ONLINE COLUMN WRITING 1. Paul Gohde, "The Dave Despain Show," MAGAZINE EVENT REPORT Racingnation.com 1. Burt Levy, "Hitting the Bricks," Vintage Motorsport 2. Nicholas Dettmann, "The Historical Slinger Nationals," 2. Nicholas Dettmann, "ARCA Fest Recap," Full Throt- Nationalspeedsportnews.com tle 3. Anne Proffit, "Will Tony Stewart's Nightmare Ever End?," 3. No award Motorsport,com Honorable Mention: Patrick Reynolds, "NASCAR Nation- MAGAZINE FEATURE WRITING wide Results?," Motorweeklive.com 1. Louise Ann Noeth, "A Century of Speed," SAH Jour- nal ONLINE TECHNICAL WRITING 2. Mike Adaskaveg, "Determined o Race," Speedway 1. Kay Presto, "Chasing the Weather in Drag Racing," Illustrated Carsandcompetition.com 3. L. Spencer Riggs, "Dick Gaines: Master of the Bull- 2. 3. No award. & 3&&7773. No award rings," Vintage Motorsport Honorable Mention: Ron Hedger, "The Race Between WEB LOG ENTRY Races," Speed Sport 1. Patrick Reynolds, "NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase," Motorweeklive.com MAGAZINE COLUMN WRITING 2. No award 1. Jim Donnelly, "The Good Earth," Hemmings Classic 3. No award Car 2. Nicholas Dettmann, "Racing Community Brings Faith PROFESSIONAL RACING WEB SITE Back to Racer," Full Throttle 1. Carsandcompetition, Kay Presto 3. Burt Levy, "Time Warp Comparo," Vintage Motor- 2. Motorweeklive.com, Patrick Reynolds sport 3. No award All Contents © The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association 922 North Pass Avenue Burbank, CA 91505-2703 (818) 842-7005 American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 2 AARWBA Awards Your AARWBA Leadership Team President & Executive Director - PHOTOGRAPHY - PRINT ACTION Norma "Dusty" Brandel 1. Jan Wagner, "Pastrana Nosing It Into Ground," Armed Forces Dispatch Women's Editor, Racing Information 2. Louise Ann Noeth, "Push-Started to Glory," Custom Service -Photo-Journalist, Car RIS-News.com 3. Bruce A. Bennett, "Flirtin' With Dirt," Speedway Illus- [email protected] trated PHOTOGRAPHY - PRINT PEOPLE 1. Mike Adaskaveg, "Drivers You Love to Boo," Speed- Vice President - way Illustrated Kathy Seymour 2. David Moulthrop, "Showers of Victory," Speed Sport Photographer, Racing Information 3. Jan Wagner, "T-Rex Snacking on Mario Andretti," Service RIS-News.com Armed Forces Dispatch Honorable Mention: Bruce A. Bennett, "Back in Black," [email protected] Speedway Illustrated Treasurer - PHOTOGRAPHY - ONLINE ACTION 1. Jan Wagner, "There Goes the Bike," Rhonda Williams Delmartimes.net Journalist - Williams Report 2. Michael C. Johnson, "This Didn't Start Well," [email protected] Motorsport.com 3. Bruce A. Bennett, "Hamlin Pits at Pocono," Nationalspeedsportnews.com Midwest Vice President - PHOTOGRAPHY - ONLINE PEOPLE Nick Dettmann 1. David Moulthrop, "A Champion's Cheer," Sports writer, West Bend Daily News Nationalspeedsportnews.com [email protected] 2. No award 3. No award RADIO FEATURE PROGRAM 1. Larry Mason, "Ohana Road Radio," ESPN Honolulu Southern Vice President - 2. Kay Presto, "Live Broadcasts," Ohana Road NBC Joe Jennings 3. No award Photo-journalist, Midwest Racing News [email protected] PODCAST/WEBCAST 1. Dick Sisich, "NASCAR Qualifying Report," Racesonoma.com 2. No award 3. No award Eastern Vice President - John Bryant JUDGES Journalist - Nazareth-Racecam Photography - Prof. Emeritus Susan Fleck, Pulliam [email protected] School of Journalism, Franklin (Ind.) College Radio Feature, Podcast/Webcast - Prof. Joel Cramer, Pulliam School of Journalism, Franklin (Ind.) College Western Vice President - Print, Online Media - Prof. Emeritus Jerry Miller, Pulliam School of Journalism, Franklin (Ind.) College, and Ray Sotero AARWBA Contest Chairman Motorsports Columnist, Gannett News Motorsport Book -- Jerry Miller, David Stringer, sports Service photojournalist [email protected] (All judging was essentially "blind," except in the Book, Racing Website, Radio Feature Program, and Podcast/Webcast categories. Judges had the option to Secretary - not make awards if they felt they were not warranted.) Patrick Reynolds Writer, Motor Week Live [R.I.P. Ron Lemasters (Sr.), who lent invaluable help to reynol945windstream.net contest judging the past 12 years. He is missed. All Contents © The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association 922 North Pass Avenue Burbank, CA 91505-2703 (818) 842-7005 American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 3 Linda Vaughn Recipient of First-ever Honorary Jim Chapman Award For Excellence in Motorsports PR Linda Vaughn, who as Miss Hurst Golden Established in 1991 by media and publicists within the CART Shifter and “The First series, the Chapman Award originally focused on achievement Lady of Auto Racing” in CART. After a hiatus of several years, the award was re- became one of the sumed in 2004, with eligibility expanded to anyone working in sport’s greatest racing PR. world-wide ambassa- dors, was announced The award honors Chapman’s legacy as one of the public rela- as the first recipient tions profession’s greatest and most innovative professionals. of an honorary Jim Chapman Award for Chapman was a journalist before entering the PR business in excellence in motor- 1946, as regional PR director for Ford Motor Co. in Detroit. sports public rela- tions. Soon thereafter, Chapman hired Ruth as consultant to the auto- maker’s sponsorship of American Legion Junior Baseball. They The Chapman traveled together for more than two years for personal appear- Award, established in ances and became close friends. In 1950, Chapman left Ford to 1991, is considered by many in the industry as the high- start his own PR firm. One of his first clients was Warren Avis est honor in racing public relations. It is named in memo- and he devoted much of his time to financial PR, which he ry of Chapman, the legendary PR executive and called his “favorite” form of PR. innovator, who worked with Babe Ruth, Dan Gurney, Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Bill France Sr. and Avis Chapman’s first venture into motorsports was in 1951, when he Rent-a-Car founder Warren Avis among many others. joined with NASCAR founder Bill France to promote the Motor Chapman, named Indy Car racing’s “most influential City 250. The race was part of Detroit’s 250th birthday celebra- man” of the 1980s, died in 1996 at age 80. tion, a Chapman client. In 1967, Chapman entered Indy Car racing with client Ozzie Olson’s Olsonite sponsorship of Dan The announcement was made at the Indianapolis Motor Gurney’s team, which later featured Bobby Unser as driver. Speedway during the annual American Auto Racing Writ- ers and Broadcasters Association breakfast meeting. Chapman also directed Olsonite’s sponsorship of the Driver of Michael Knight, chairman of the selection committee and the Year award. He orchestrated all the details, including the one of Chapman’s closest friends, made the presenta- media panel voting, and an annual luncheon at New York City’s tion. famed ‘21’ Club. This first-ever honorary Chapman Award is the result of Chapman’s greatest professional acclaim came from 1981 several suggestions and endorsement of the Chapman 1992, as director of CART series sponsor PPG Industries’ pro- family and approval of members of the national media gram.