NEWS FROM EASTERN MOTORSPORTS PRESS ASSOCIATION

NEWS FROM…

EASTERN MOTORSPORT PRESS ASSOCIATION

CONTACT: RON HEDGER, PRESIDENT, 518-885-7481

DINO OBERTO, VICE PRESIDENT, 570-401-8168 JOHN SNYDER, MEDIA OFFICE, 845-225-3560

ROBIN ERWIN, WEBMASTER, robinervin1@comcast.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KESELOWSKI, HEARN, PENSKE, LARSON, AND ROBINSON EMPA AWARD WINNERS

King of Prussia, PA (Jan. 6)……..NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski, DIRTcar Modified driver Brett Hearn, motorsports mogul Roger Penske, rising star Kyle Larson, and racing journalist and public address announcer Al Robinson received top honors at the Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame Banquet held during the annual EMPA Convention, January 4-6 at the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia, PA.

Selected by a vote of the more than 150 members of the EMPA, Keselowski was named the Al Holbert Memorial National Driver of the year; Hearn chosen the Richie Evans Memorial Northeast Driver of the Year; Penske honored as the T. Wayne Robinson Newsmaker of the Year for his pivotal role as the head Penske Racing, winning his first NACAR Sprint Cup title as team owner and taking his NASCAR team from Dodge to Ford products; Larson was named the John Blewett III Young Guns Award presented by New England Racing Fuels for his achievements in both NASCAR’s developmental division and his open-wheel prowess; longtime journalist and announcer Robinson received the Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport Award for continuing participating in the sport despite serious medical issues.

Jim and Laura Allebach, owners of Lucas Wolfe’s car, received the Jerry Reigle Outstanding Contribution to Sprint Car Racing Award presented by the World of Outlaws.

EMPA members receiving special recognition included Robin Ervin (Art McHugh Memorial EMPA Service Award), Steve Barrick (Jim Hunter Memorial Writers Award), Dave Moulthrop and Todd Dziadosz (Ace Lane Sr. Memorial Photography Award), and Gary Rowe EMPA President’s Award).

Inducted into the EMPA Hall of Fame were drivers Tony Siscone and Doug Wolfgang, driver and speedway operator Stan Friesen, car owners Lou Cicconi Sr. and Ken Tremont Sr., and track operator Paul Kuhl.

A highlight of the evening was the awarding of prizes in the organization’s video and broadcasting, writing, and photography contests. Winning first place in the American Honda Motor Company/EMPA Video and Broadcast Contest were Brian Unangst, Broadcast News Segment; Sean Siff, General Racing Programs; Brian Unangst, Single Event Coverage; Matt Thomas, Non-Broadcast Single Event; and Mel Thomas, Non-Broadcast General Racing

Winning top honors in the Pocono Raceway/EMPA Writers Contest were Bill Huneke, Race Report; Jim Donnelly, Personality Profile; Bruce Bennett, Feature; Herb Anastor, Column; and Dino Oberto, News Story

Photographers earning first place recognition in the Brice/NAPA/EMPA Photography Contest included Dave Dalesandro, Action; Tommy Hein, Action Sequence; Loren Carmen, Crash Action; Rebecca Eisele, Feature; Paul Arch, Picture Story; Brent Smith, Portrait and Personality; Bob Yurko, Pure Art; Dick Ayers, Unpublished Color.

Brent Smith captured the Portfolio of the Year, while Rebecca Eisele won Best in Show. The Janice Brice “Honorable mention” Award went to Todd Dziadosz.

The EMPA Convention included press conferences, seminars, presentations by track and racing series promoters, as well as the video and broadcast, writing, and photography member contests, social interaction with all types of American motorsports personalities including Andretti Autosports developmental driver Zach Veach, and the NASCAR-sponsored Hall of Fame Banquet. The late Dr. Joseph Mattioli, president of Pocono Raceway and a long time supporter of EMPA, was honored prior to the Saturday evening’s banquet.

A roundtable seminar on rights, responsibilities, and legal issues regarding blogs and postings on internet message boards was led by attorney, judge, and Modified race car driver Richard Yetter, internet guru Lewis Gruppo, and retired AP motorsports writer/reporter Mike Harris.

Sponsors of the EMPA Convention included NASCAR (represented by Tim Southers et al); Dover International Speedway (Gary Camp); IZOD IndyCar (Kate Guerra); World Racing Group/DIRTcar (Chris Dolack et al); Pocono Raceway (Bob Pleban), American Honda Motor Company; and Brice Auto Parts, Inc./NAPA.

At the EMPA Annual Meeting, Len Sammons, Ron Hedger, and Dave Dalesandro were elected to the Board of Directors. The Directors then named Hedger, president, and Oberto, vice president, and appointed John Snyder, secretary, and Jeff Gromis, treasurer. Committee chairs were also appointed.

American Honda Motor Company/EMPA Video and Broadcast Contest

Broadcast Division

NEWS SEGMENT (1) Brian Unangst, (2) Sean Siff

GENERAL RACING PROGRAMS (1) Siff, (2) Unangst, (3) Mike Feltenberger

SINGLE EVENT COVERAGE (1) Unangst, (2) Siff

Non-Broadcast Division

SINGLE EVENT COVERAGE (1) Matt Thomas

GENERAL RACING COVERAGE (1) Mel Thomas, (2) Unangst

Pocono Raceway/EMPA Writers Contest Award Winners

RACE REPORT (1) Bill Huneke, (2) Ron Hedger, (3) Dino Oberto

PERSONALITY PROFILE (1) Jim Donnelly, (2) Len Sammons, (3) Dave Reininger

FEATURE (1) Bruce Bennett, (2) Toby LaGrange, (3) Robin Ervin

COLUMN (1) Herb Anastor, (2) JR Kennerup, (#) Matt Noles

NEWS (1) Dino Oberto, (2) John Snyder, (3) Steve Barrick

Brice’s Auto Parts, Inc./NAPA/EMPA Photography Contest Award Winners

ACTION (1) Dave Dalesandro, (2) Pete MacDonald, (3) Pete MacDonald, (Hon. mention) Brent Smith

ACTION SEQUENCE (1) Tommy Hein, (2) Dave Pratt, (3) Julia Johnson, (Hon. Mention) Dick Ayers and Bill McGaffin

CRASH ACTION (1) Loren Carmen, (2) Bruce Bennett, (3) Paul Arch, (Hon. Mention) Mike Petrucci, Todd Dziadosz, Rick Sweeten

PICTURE STORY (1) Paul Arch, (2) Paul Arch, (3) Dave Dalesandro, (Hon. Mention) Paul Arch

PORTRAIT AND PERSONALITY (1) Brent Smith, (2) Dave Pratt, (3) Mike Petrucci, (Hon. Mention) Rick Sweeten and Rebecca Eisele

FEATURE (1) Rebecca Eisele, Pete MacDonald, (3) Todd Dziadosz, (Hon. Mention) Dave Pratt, Julia Johnson, Rebecca Eisele

UNPUBLISHED COLOR (1) Dick Ayers, Dave Dalesandro, (3) Loren Carmen, (Hon. Mention) Debbie Gastelu

PURE ART (1) Bob Yurko, (2) Brent Smith, (3) Bob Yurko, (Hon. Mention) John Lane, Todd Dziadosz

PORTFOLIO OF THE YEAR: Brent Smith

BEST OF SHOW: Rebecca Eisele

JANICE BRICE “HONORABLE MENTION” AWARD: Todd Dziadosz