The six journalists honored Wednesday evening during the 21st annual presentation of the Miller Lite Motorsports Journalism Awards of Excellence in honor of Russ Catlin included a writer who detailed former driver Ward Burton’s wildlife conservation efforts for the Richmond Times-Dispatch;and a Bristol, Va., television reporter who earned first-place in two categories for a story that allowed viewers to see in Rusty Wallace’s face and hear in his voice his belief that son, Stephen, will carry the Wallace racing torch into the future.
The Miller Lite Motorsports Journalism Awards of Excellence traditionally recognize outstanding motorsports coverage in five categories while honoring the memory of Russ Catlin, a motorsports journalism pioneer. This year, two additional categories were added to recognize outstanding print and electronic coverage of Wallace’s “Last Call,” the 1989 series champion’s final season of Nextel Cup racing.
Each winner received a plaque and a Rolex watch from Miller Lite Nextel Cup driver Kurt Busch following a dinner at the Penske Racing South facility in Mooresville, N.C. The event was part of the Nextel Media Tour hosted by Lowe’s Motor Speedeway.
The 2005 Miller Lite Motorsports Journalism Awards of Excellence in honor of Russ Catlin winners:
Print – Daily: Nate Ryan – Richmond Times-Dispatch, Entry: “Call of the Wild (Ward Burton)”
Print – Other: Mike Hembree – NASCAR Scene, Entry: “The Driver and the Dandy”
Print – “Last Call”: Rea White – NASCAR Scene; Entry: “End of the Show”
Broadcast – National: Mike Massaro – ESPN “Outside the Lines”, Entry: “Cheat to Win”
Broadcast – Local: Paul Johnson – WCYB – TV, Entry: “The Crash”
Broadcast – “Last Call”: Paul Johnson – WCYB – TV, Entry: “The Crash”
Photojournalism: Phil Rider – Sports Illustrated, Entry: “Fire Escape”
(Tom Roberts PR)(1-27-2006)
