Owen Kearns, manager of communications for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been named the fourth quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association Pocono Spirit Award. Kearns, who began his racing career as a journalist, joined NASCAR in 1983 to run what was then known as the Winston West Series. In addition, he has worked with NASCARs Weekly, Southwest and Northeast series. He began working with the truck series upon its inception, and worked 288 consecutive events before health issues forced him to the sidelines for a single race the 2006 Easy Care 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October of 2006. However, after only a brief stay in the hospital, Kearns was back on the beat, overseeing the series when it returned to Texas Motor Speedway the following week. Actually, Ive been around the truck series before it even began, he said, as early as 1993. Through the meetings with NASCAR in Daytona and the exhibition races, Ive been involved with it for quite some time. Im humbled to receive the award … I really appreciate it. The NMPA Pocono Spirit Award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Each year, quarterly winners are selected, and an overall winner is selected by a vote of the NMPA membership. The 2006 overall winner will be announced during the NMPAs annual convention and awards ceremony scheduled for Jan. 21. Also receiving votes for the fourth-quarter award were Ryan Newman. Other quarterly winners for 2006 included: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owner/driver Bobby Hamilton (first quarter); longtime photojournalist Dozier Mobley (second quarter); and 1973 Cup champion Benny Parsons (third quarter).(NASCAR PR)(12-23-2006)
