2/21/2011
Silver Dollar Speedway
Motor Sports Press Association Names "Racers of the Year" for 2010 Accomplishments
SACRAMENTO, CA (2-21-11) -Â The Motor Sports Press Association has named nine Northern California drivers and car owners to receive its "racers of the year" award for their accomplishments in the 2010 season, the equivalent of a regional "all star" team that includes three national champions in road course and oval track racing and motorcycles.
In addition to those individual awards, the West Capitol Raceway Alumni Association of Sacramento will receive the MSPA's most prestigious award, the Gordon Martin Award, for the group's efforts to preserve the history of an iconic and now defunct quarter mile clay track that operated in West Sacramento from 1947 to 1980. The award is named for the late Gordon Martin, one of the west coast's most influential motorsports writers who covered everything in racing from short tracks to Daytona and Indianapolis, with columns three times a week for the San Francisco Chronicle.
John Padjen, Roseville, a 50 year veteran of race track promotion, will be inducted into the MSPA's Hall of Fame for his career-long dedication to promoting events at West Capitol Raceway and at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico and Placerville Speedway. Padjen began his career as a pit gate steward at West Capitol Raceway before becoming a promoter. Named a former Promoter of the Year by his peers in the RPM Promoters organization, Padjen moved the Gold Cup, one of Northern California's biggest short track races for sprint cars to Chico, and grew it into an event voted by fans nationwide as the best in the country.
The awards will be presented at the 49th annual MSPA Awards Dinner on March 9, 2011, at the Blackhawk Auto Museum in Danville where, for the first time in the event's 49 year history, race fans will have an opportunity to attend. Ticket information is available at (408) 733-6135 or bethgsvl@comcast.net
"Racers of the Year" honored by the Motor Sports Press Association for the 2010 season include:
Motorsportsman of the Year; Peter Giddings, Danville, Ca.: for his extensive achievements on the track and his behind the scenes efforts to promote and support vintage racing worldwide.
Road Racer of the Year/Closed Car; Scott Pruett, Auburn: for his fourth national championship in the Grand Am Rolex sports car series and a record season in which he became that series all-time race winner, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Road Racer of the Year/Open Wheel; Alexander Rossi, Nevada City: a two-race winner and fourth place championship finish in Europe's GP3 and scored the most overtakes while running only four of eight races in GPAsia.
Open Wheel/Oval Track Racer of the Year: Jason Meyers, Fresno: for his national championship in the World of Outlaws sprint car series, the first Californian in that series' 30 year history to win the title.
Stock Car Driver of the Year; Eric Holmes, Escalon: for his second championship in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, driving for Bill McAnally Racing of Antelope, Ca.
Bill Spencer Award/Motorcycle Rider of the Year/Road Racing; Elena Myer, Discovery Bay: the 17 year old is the first female winner (at Infineon Raceway) in the American Motorcycle Association Pro Supersport West series.
Bill Spencer Award/Motorcyle Rider of the Year/off-road: Cody Webb, Watsonville, Ca. : The American Motorcycle Association/NATC national Time trials Champion for 2010, winning 8 of 10 events and, representing the USA national team, a fourth place in the international Trials De Nations.
Paul Tyler "Rising Star" Award; Shelby Sander, Cameron Park: for her karting championship at Prairie City Kart Track and her crossover competition with racers from the Davis Blue Max and Dixon karting associations.
Paul Tyler "Rising Star" Award; Frankie Guerrini III, San Rafael: for his "Rookie of the Year" season in winged, mini-sprints at Delta Speedway, Stockton.
The Motor Sports Press Association is a not for profit journalistic organization formed in the San Francisco Bay area in 1963 to promote integrity and accuracy in motorsports coverage and to recognize the achievements of professional racers throughout Northern California.
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