ImPRESSions© The Official Newsletter Of The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association February 2009 Vol. 42 No. 2 Page 5 - Photos from the 2009 All-America Team dinner presented by AARWBA Member Media Contests Sponsored by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway & IndyCar Series Exclusively for members of the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association Details on page 4 In This Issue: AARWBA President Dusty Brandel honors - Titus To Schumacher Page 2 Tony Schumacher with the Jerry Titus Award. - Member Media Contests Page 4 Schumacher, who edged out NASCAR Sprint Cup - All-America Dinner Photos Page 5 - Have You Been To Indy? Page 9 champion Jimmie Johnson by a single vote, is a - Featured Artist Page 9 two-time winner and a six-time AARWBA - News & Notes Page 10 Horsepower Trophy honoree. - My Interesting Day Page 11 (Ron Lewis Photo) - AA Team Election Results Page 12 American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” phy winner at 39 Saturday night's Tro- Memorial Jerry Titus becameatwo-time season, a NHRAdragracing onship capped record-setting whose Tony Schumacher, champi- fifth consecutive “Given the history-making season theU.S. season thehistory-making “Given the Jerry Titus winner, tobenamed Trophy “It’s a thrill victories. of 56 total all-timeTopFuel surpassedJoe Amato’s Schumacher Greg Anderson’s mark.Alongtheway, single-season tied wins round records. His 76 are wins. All round consecutive 11 straightfinalroundsandhad31 in 24events,hadsevencons ished with15winsoutof appearances 18 final-round He Fuelclass. fin- the Top dominated Schumacher and at-large. drag racing, shor road racing, categori fromseven Team electdriverstothe AARWBA members annually -offers. motorsports media professionals of organization andlargest BA -thecountry'soldest honorAARW- an AARWBAmember. It isthehighest ofthelatejournalistandracer, in memory who was votes. It isnamed All-America Team ceives the most whore- awarded tothedriver is Titus Trophy The in1982. thanBobbyAllison onevote ceived more Muldowney re- vote.Shirley one by Johnson mie edgedNASCAR Sprint CuptitlistJim- Schumacher In the closest margininmore than a quarter-century, World Cupof Motorsport. byA1GP presented ceremony, Team All-America Auto RacingWritersandBroadcastersAssociation drag racingisgettingitsfa tobesingledoutas from so manydifferentserieseligible, Titusawar another bring home Icould happythat also “I’m sayIwaspartofthegreatest Fuelt Top safely different ways different apiecefo so everycrewguycan have American Auto Racing Writers &Br Racing Writers American Auto NHRA Top Fuel Champ Tops All-Amer ChampTops NHRA TopFuel This month’s issueofImPR This month’s “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage OfMotorSports” MediaCoverage “Dedicated To Increasing Ceremony PresentedbyA1GPWorldCupofMotorsport AARWBA Titus Trophy toSchumacher Trophy Titus AARWBA es: Stock car, open-wheel, car, open-wheel, es: Stock ir share of attention.” of ir share ecutive victories, made t track, touring series th annual American annualAmerican Army hadin2008,Iwishthis team eam that’s ever been inNHRAhistory. eam that’severbeen assembled oadcasters Association, Association, Inc. oadcasters 2 r themselves. WhenIlookbac r themselves. wins record andended the 2008 season withacareer ” said Schumacher, whoalso ” said Schumacher persevered through 10 inches of snow in Chicago ofsnow Chicago in inches 10 through persevered Schumacher In accepting AARWBA'sJerry Titu completed his sweep of the 2008 driver of the year awards. awards. year the of driver 2008 the of sweep his completed ESSSions issponsoredby since 2006, NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher Schumacher Tony champion Fuel Top NHRA 2006, since thetopvote-getterisrea ica Team, Wins by 1 Over Johnson Winsby1Over Team, ica d to d to the NHRA world. talenteddrivers With somany anda cross-countrytrip with atight connectionin San Francisco to be on hand at the the at hand on be to Francisco San Ontario, California, event Jan. 10. (Ron Lewis Photo) Lewis (Ron trophy could be split upinalotof trophy couldbesplit (www.aarwba.org) lly special. It clearly means means clearly It lly special. k onthispast season, I can won the wonthe award in 2006. s Award for the Continued onnextpage second time All Contents © The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association 922 North Pass Avenue Burbank, CA 91505-2703 (818) 842-7005 neer is one of AARWBA’s oldest and presti- oldestand most neer isoneofAARWBA’s Pio- inthesport. The that hasmade a difference achievement and dedication honored forlongtime was broadcaster, announcer and NHRA legendary Pioneer In Racing Award Pioneer In dia professionals,andautomakers. honoredracers, me- presentations special Several leading Marco Andretti USA with Team Racingrepresents Green dretti than 20nations to competeonanequalbasis.An- more vs. together country country. A1GPbrings matches format series’unique A1GP open-wheel 10-race, Theinternational, presenting sponsor. onbehalf of theceremony’s guests worth greeted Commercial A1GP Chief Officer ScottHollings- (at-large). Matos andRaphael Henzler Bergmeister/Wolf Jorg Schatz CoonsJr.andDonny (short Jerry track); BensonandJustinAllgaier (touring series); Johnny jas Sharp (roadracing); DavidBrabham/Scott and Ro- Castroneves (open wheel);ScottPruett/Memo Scott car); Dixon andHelio Carl Edwards(stock were Cruz Pedregon (dragracing); Johnson and Other driversto Team Compton (left) admires T Compton (left) admires Dave McClelland received the Pioneer in Racing inRacing receivedthe Pioneer Dave McClelland National Hot Rod Association President Tom Tom President HotRodAssociation National public-relations represen public-relations NHRA scored several honors at the Jan. 10 NHRA theJan. honors scored several at was the Jim Chapman Award recipient. Chapman was theJim banquet. Event Master of Ceremonies ofCeremonies Master Event banquet. Award, and Don andDon Schumacher Racing Award, American Auto Racing Writers &Br Racing Writers American Auto (Ron LewisPhoto) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage OfMotorSports” MediaCoverage “Dedicated To Increasing earn HorsepowerTrophies All-America TeamAwar the driverroster. : Dave McClelland, the McClelland, : Dave ony Schumacher's award. award. ony Schumacher's tative JudyStropus oadcasters Association, Association, Inc. oadcasters 3 ter-mile. quar- dragracingonthelegendary Pomona ed inmedia and participat- FunnyCar JohnForce champion 14-time touredthe shop of intheday,AARWBAmembers Earlier enjoyed complimentary Valvoline Forum. Newsmakers Glick speakersparticipatedinthe Shav Several lander. Hol- F. Michael pioneer journalism dent andonline racing presi- winner BobCarlsonandlongtime AARWBA vice Hill, Scott Kalitta,Porsc of in tributes Phil Paul Newman, memory audio-visual included Hiltonballroom Ontario in the ceremony The tation. madethe presen- Kendall Tommy winner and 1997 Titus SCCATrans-Amchampion Four-time future champion. theattributes a who displays of an up-and-coming driver da series runner-up JoelMiller Maz- by toStar Co.,went John Gorsline of TheGorsline Appreciation Awards ofChapman. President MikeHarris, closefriends both and Knight Michael man Co-Chair- waspresentedbyceremony The plaque man. of journalists committee ribbon by waschosen a blue- Racing, DonSchumacher senting CART series sponsor PPG who was Babe Ruth’s PR repanddirector racing of for thelatelegendary PR executive, ofChapman, in memory Itis named inmotorsportspublicrelations. for excellence Gorsline Scholarship Gorsline ceremony. ofthe organization. Al support Honda, Toyota,Mazda,andPorschefortheir longtime Jim Chapman Award Chapman Jim Master ofCeremonies. wasthe evening’s inthemedia.McClelland to someone gious awardsand this was it the first time was presented ds DinnerContinued co-hosted the pre-dinner the co-hosted : Dusty Brandel recognized Ford, Ford, recognized : DustyBrandel : The 16th annual scholarship, given : The16thannualscholarship, : Judy Stropus receivedthehonor ESPN he publicist and Chapman andChapman Award he publicist Budweiser (www.aarwba.org) AARWBA Southern Vice AARWBA SouthernVice Industries. Stropus,repre- , MAZDASPEED l were represented at the at l wererepresented . The prize is awarded isawarded to . Theprize , all of whom , allofwhom knew Chap- reception.Guests products. and All Contents © The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association 922 North Pass Avenue Burbank, CA 91505-2703 (818) 842-7005 Sponsored bytheIndianapolis Complete contestrulescanbe Exclusively formembersofthe 1st place$300/2nd Entries Accepted In Five Different MediaCategories InFiveDifferent Accepted Entries American Auto Racing Writers &Br Racing Writers American Auto Jerry Millerat If youhaveanyquestionsabout therules,contact AARWBA MemberMediaContests AARWBA Winners in each Winners “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage OfMotorSports” MediaCoverage “Dedicated To Increasing FEBRUARY 15,2009 FEBRUARY Radio /TV Photography http://aarwba.org/acontest.htm On-Line Media Media On-Line Books & BroadcastersAssociation Contest EntryDeadline: Contest Newspaper /Magazine [email protected] oadcasters Association, Association, Inc. oadcasters place $150/3rd$75. 4 Motor Speedway&IndyCarSeries category receive: found ontheAARWBAwebsite American AutoRacingWriters or317-736-7472 (www.aarwba.org) All Contents © The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association 922 North Pass Avenue Burbank, CA 91505-2703 (818) 842-7005 Robert Hight at theJohn Robert Hight