Roger Penske couldn’t be in Fort Worth to accept credit for his induction to the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. Instead, he sent word that his place belongs to the employees of Team Penske, the racing operation that has won 23 national championships. ‘I know what Roger would say,’ said right-hand man Walt Czarneck, executive vice president of Penske Corporation. ‘He’d say, ‘I’m the face of our company, but it’s really the people of our organization who deserve this. They’re the ones who have the desire, who have the commitment, who are proud of the organization. That’s why we’ve been able to achieve what we have.’ ‘ Penske became the 16th member of the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame and the third car owner inducted in the past five years, joining fellow NASCAR owners Jack Roush (2012) and Joe Gibbs (2009). Also honored Thursday night was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was presented the Major Gen. Thomas Sadler Award for humanitarianism. His appearance in Roanoke last fall helped raise more than $30,000 for Speedway Children’s Charities, the charity arm of Texas Motor Speedway. Others receiving awards were Kyle Busch, who was named the TMS racer of the year; three-time Indianapolis 500 champ Dario Franchitti, who received the O. Bruton Smith Legend Award to recognize a career cut short by injury; and James Buescher, who earned the Sportsmanship Award for his work in recovery efforts in Moore, Okla.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(4-4-2014)
