kind of missed in the whole banquet thing was a rare honor given to Darrell Waltrip: the Bill France Award of Excellence. Probably the best speech of the banquet with wife Stevie up on stage with him. Not sure who else has won the award, but it is not given out every year but only when someone has done something special(12-11-2000) UPDATE: past winners 1997 – Bruton Smith (mainly for founding Speedway Children’s Charities) 1990 – Chris Economacki 1988 – Bobby Allison 1987 – Richard Petty 1985/6 – Richard Childress 1965 – Goodyear (developed the inner liner)(MotorsportsTV)(12-12-2000)
