From Stuart Doty
Six candidates for the Thirty-fourth Auto Racing Promoter of the Year (ARPY) Award, chosen by promoters in balloting held by Racing Promotion Monthly, received their first nomination. One regional nominee already received his industry’s highest honor, and two nominees share 11 previous regional awards. Two operate paved tracks and six dirt tracks. Six are sanctioned and two operate independently.
Leading the nominees are Six first-time regional nominees: Red & Judy MacDonald and Bob Watson, Lee USA (NH) Speedway; Andrew Harpell, Five-Mile Point (NY) Speedway; Al Varnadore and Todd Hutto, East Bay (FL) Raceway Park; Orville Chenoweth, Dakota State Fair (SD) Speedway; Rodney Wing, Whynot (MS) Motorsports Park; and Steve Beitler, Skagit (WA) Speedway. Multi-time nominees include: Jim Nuckles and the Nuckles Family, Columbus (OH) Motor Speedway, nominated for the eighth time; and 1997 Auto Racing Promoter of the Year C-Ray Hall, Eighty-One (KS) Speedway. The selection of Hall, brings to eleven, the promoters who have been re-nominated after winning the penultimate award and gives Hall a seventh regional award.
The ARPY ballot will soon be in the hands of promoters. The Thirty-Fourth ARPY will be revealed during the Thirty-Seventh Annual RPM Promoters Workshops at the Hilton Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach, FL; February 8, 2010.
The Auto Racing Promoter of the Year is short track racing’s most prestigious award. It is awarded each year after voting by promoters. The award was originated in 1976 by the editors of Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters. Voting is conducted in two phases: a preliminary ballot in the newsletter nominates candidates in eight regions. The eight candidates become Regional Promoters of the Year and then appear on a second ballot for final voting.
Joe and Walt Doellefeld were 33rd Auto Racing Promoters of the Year last year. Previous winners of the ARPY award are: Hugh Deery, 1976/1984; J.C. Agajanian, 1977; D. Anthony Venditti, 1978; Jack Gunn, 1979; George Eisenhart, 1980; Dick O’Brien, 1981; Howard Tiedt, 1982; Don Martin, 1983; Glenn Donnelly, 1985; Cary Agajanian, 1986; Bud Lunsford, 1987; Bob Daniels, 1988; Howard Commander, 1989; Ray Wilkings, 1990; Paul Kuhl, 1991; Robert Lawton; 1992; Earl Baltes, 1993; Jody Deery, 1994; Andy Vertrees, 1995; Charles Powell, 1996; C-Ray Hall, 1997; Larry Kemp, 1998; Charles Cathell, 1999; Charles Deery, 2000; Ralph Capitani, 2001; Lanny Edwards, 2002; Bob & Nadine Strauss, 2003; Tom Curley, 2004, Steve York, 2005; John Padjen, 2006; Lynn Phillips, 2007.
More information on the nominees or the award ceremonies is available from Racing Promotion Monthly, 715-536-1067
Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters (RacingPromotionMonthly.Com), and the Workshops are produced with the year-round support of K&K Insurance Group, Inc., Hoosier Racing Tire. The RPM Promoters Workshops are produced with additional support from: The Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno, INEX, Musco Sports Lighting, GM Performance Parts, Moffett Productions, The World Racing Group, Raceceiver, Lucas Oil, Simes Graphic Designs, AMI Graphics, the WISSOTA Promoters Association and Advertising Edge. Visit RPMPromotersWorkshops.Com for information on the RPM Promoters Workshop. The Speedweek Workshop is the 99th produced by Racing Promotion Monthly since 1974. More than 1400 track operators, their employees, and industry leaders attended last year’s Workshops. More information is available from RPM at 715-536-1067.