NASCAR President Mike Helton was the featured speaker and Dan Wheldon, the Indy 500 winner and IRL series champion, was announced as recipient of the Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy at Saturday night’s 36th annual American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association’s All-America Team dinner presented by Sprint Nextel. The sold-out event marked the official conclusion of AARWBA’s year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration. Approximately 250 members, guests and VIPs were in attendance at the Hyatt Regency 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. Wheldon was not in attendance and AARWBA President Dusty Brandel accepted. NASCAR drivers elected to the Team were: Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson (stock car); and Martin Truex Jr. (touring); Special AARWBA membership cards went to NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. Executive Vice President of Communications Fred Nation.(see full awards breakdown at the AARWBA site)(12-4-2005)
