EMPA Driver of the Year voting: The ballots are in the mail to the more than 200 professional media that make up the membership of the Eastern Motorsport Press Association. Members of the organization, now in its 34th year, will decide who be receive the Al Holbert Memorial EMPA Driver of the Year, the Richie Evans Memorial EMPA Northeast Driver of the Year and who will be inducted into the EMPA Hall of Fame. Five drivers have been nominated for the Al Holbert Memorial Driver of the Year award. Included are: ” Sam Hornish, 23 year old two time Indy Racing League champion ” Tony Stewart, NASCAR Winston Cup champion ” Steve Kinser, 17 time Pennzoil World of Outlaws sprint car champion ” Angelle Savoie, won her third consecutive NHRA Pro Stock Bike championship ” Frank Kimmel, four time champion of the ARCA RE/MAX Series There are also five drivers nominated for the Richie Evans Memorial EMPA Driver of the Year award. Nominees include: ” Brett Hearn, 42 Modified feature wins in 2002. Champion at Lebanon Valley Speedway and 358 Modified champion at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. In addition he finished second in the Mr. DIRT Motorsports Modified championship chase. ” Greg Hodnett, winner of 21 sprint features this season including wins against the World of Outlaws and the Gumout World of Outlaws II series. ” Chub Frank, ran 60 Late Model events in 2002 and won the Renegade (STARS) Racing Series title for the third straight year. He had nine wins, some coming in major national late model events, 26 top five finishes. ” Alan Johnson, 26 DIRT Modified Series wins. Champion in the modifieds at Brewerton Speedway, Cayuga County Fair Speedway and Rolling Wheels Raceway. He was also 358 Modified champion at Fulton Speedway. And for the third time was overall Mr. DIRT Modified Champion ” Andy Santerre, 2002 NASCAR Busch Series North Champion. Won three races with 10 top five finishes. Traveled from Harrisburg, NC to the New England Series events. Nominees for the EMPA Hall of Fame include: ” Stan Ploski Jr., one of the Northeast’s leading dirt track modified drivers from the 1960s through the 1980s. ” Kenny Weld, winner of more than 250 sprint and modified features during his career ” Bob Weikert, as a car owner his sprint cars won more than 500 features. ” Dave Kelly, won the last modified feature at Reading, PA Speedway. ” Bugs Stevens, NASCAR National Modified Champion in 1967, 68 and 69. ” Bill Slater, won title at Norwood Arena and Waterford Speedbowl. ” Harry Gant, won 18 Winston Cup races and 17 poles. ” Chris Economaki, the Dean of Motorsports Journalist and the original when it came to TV coverage of motorsports. He is 83 and still writes his well-read National Speed Sport News column. ” Bruce Larson, seven career wins in 19 final round appearances in NHRA Funny car competition. The Eastern Motorsport Press Association will honor the award winners at their annual convention, January 17-19th, at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Trevose, PA. Many sanctioning organizations, speedways and personalities in the sport will participate including NHRA, NASCAR, Hooters Tour, Valvoline, Tosco Marketing, Performance Racing Industry Magazine, IRL, ARCA, SCCA, R.J.Reynolds, Pocono Raceway, United Racing Club, and many others. The first annual Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport award will be presented to Junie. He will be on hand to accept the award. Don Hawk, former president of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., will be on hand to talk about the state of the sport and sponsorship in the sport. The president of “Hawk Sports Management” is one of the most respected figures in the industry. He currently has 8 drivers that he represents. He has been instrumental in bringing several major corporations to motorsports. Those having interest in participating in the convention are invited to contact Ernie or Marilyn Saxton at 215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392.(EMPA PR)(11-28-2002)
