When the Eastern Motorsport Press Association holds its annual convention at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Trevose, PA at the end of January seven new names will be entered inthe EMPA Hall of Fame. During the same convention, attended by more than 100 professional media that cover the sport on a regular basis, NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart will receive the Al Holbert Memorial/EMPA Driver of the Year award for the third time and sprint car racing star Fred Rahmer will accept the Richie Evans Memorial/EMPA Northeast Driver of the Year award. Bobby Allen, winner of more than 251 sprint car races at more than 15 different speedways with a variety of organizations, will top the list of racers being inducted into the Hall of Fame. One of the all-time greats of Modified stock car racing Buzzie Reutimann [David’s father] will be inducted along with one of the all-time great Modified car owners Dick Cozze; outstanding Dirt Modified car owner Joe Bullock; ten-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Bob Glidden; three time Cup champion Darrell Waltrip and Al Hamilton who has owned sprint cars that have won more than 400 features driven by numerous drivers. Special awards presented during the three day convention set for January 27-29th include a President’s Award to six time American Racing Drivers Club champion Ray Bull; a one time EMPA Outstanding Achievement Award to former head of N.J. Motor Vehicles Motorsports Division Capt. John Wyckoff plus the T.Wayne Robertson Newsmaker of the Year Award to Indy Racing League star Danica Patrick and veteran Nextel Cup racer Morgan Shepherd will receive the Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport Award. Other awards, to be announced at the convention, will include the Frank Blunk Memorial Award to an outstanding journalist, the Ace Lane Memorial Award to an outstanding photographer and the Art McHugh Memorial Award presented to an individual who works behind the scenes for the good of the EMPA organization. Those planning to attend must make their intentions known before January 15th to Ernie Saxton at 215.752.7797.(Motorsports Sponsorship Marketing News)(12-30-2005)
