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Individuals, Teams Honored for Leadership, Spirit, Pioneering Activities and Providing Opportunities to Women Racers |
Indianapolis,
IN (July 24, 2008) |
The Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation today announced the
winners of its Leadership Award, the Mildred Marcum Pioneer Award,
the USAC Kara Hendrick Spirit Award, and the Opportunity Award.
The honorees were recognized at the Foundation’s 6th annual Women
in the Winner’s Circle luncheon held at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway.
The Foundation presented its inaugural Leadership Award
to Director of Ford Racing, Dan Davis. For 11 years, Davis has
managed Ford’s North American auto racing programs, including their
commitment to furthering grassroots racing efforts and young driver
development. In 2005, Davis led the charge to create the Ford Female
Driver Development Program, the first time a manufacturer created
a program to identify and develop young female talent. Through
this ongoing program, women are provided opportunities and resources
to help them reach the winner’s circle. Ford Racing has a long
history in developing diverse driver talent. Ford was an early
supporter of Lyn St. James' road racing career in the 1980s, as
well as a supporter of prominent African-American driver Willy
T. Ribbs' road racing career in that same time frame. Currently
they are supporting the racing efforts of Stephanie Mockler and
Alison MacLeod in the USAC Midgets Series.
The Foundation also
recognized Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation for being the
inaugural partner in Project Podium, the Foundation’s matching
grant program. Thanks to Newman’s support and leadership, Project
Podium awarded grants last month to five young women drivers to
help further their careers.
The 4th annual Mildred Marcum Pioneer
Award was presented posthumously to two individuals: Sara Christian and Louise Smith. This award was created to honor Mildred Marcum,
who co-founded the ARCA Re/Max Series in 1953 in Toledo Ohio, and
who represents what it takes to be successful in racing: show up,
work hard, love what you’re doing, and be the best at what you
do.
On June 19, 1949, Sara Christian became the first woman driver
in NASCAR history. Three weeks later, in her second race, she competed
in the first field to feature three women drivers and she competed
against her husband, Frank, making them the only married couple
to compete in a NASCAR race. Through seven races in 1949 and 1950,
Christian had two Top 10 finishes. In 1949, she was named United
States Drivers’ Association Woman Driver of the Year, and was inducted
into the Georgia Automotive Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. She passed
away in 1980.
Louise Smith was known as “the first lady of racing,”
winning 38 races in her career. She started her career on local
short tracks in 1945. On July 10, 1949, she began racing in NASCAR,
competing in the first stock car race she ever saw and driving
in the first race to include three women – Louise Smith, Sara Christian
and Ethel Mobley. She stopped racing in 1956, but returned to the
industry in 1971 to sponsor cars for drivers on their way up. In
1999, she became the first woman inducted into the International
Motorsports Hall of Fame. Smith passed away on April 15, 2006.
Previous
winners of the Mildred Marcum Pioneer Award are: Mildred Marcum
(2005); Barbara Parks (2006); and Denise McCluggage (2007).
The
USAC Kara Hendrick Spirit Award honors a woman driver whose spirit,
determination and driving ability are reminiscent of the excellence
demonstrated by Kara Hendrick during her brief career. This year’s
honoree is 19-year old Alison MacLeod. Since stepping foot into
her first go-kart at age seven, MacLeod’s passion in life has been
to go racing. Graduating from 4-cycle sprint karts to 80cc shifter
karts by age 11; MacLeod proved she was not just a competitor but
a champion. By 2004 MacLeod racked up numerous championships and
caught the attention of Ford Racing as an up-and-coming competitor.
She was given the opportunity to showcase her talent in the Ford
Racing Sponsored Driver Development Program managed and operated
by open wheel car builder Bob East, of B. East chassis. Competing
in the USAC Ford Focus division Alison scored her first victory
in 2005, just 3-weeks after her 16th birthday. The 2007 season
included a win in Plymouth, IN, and set her on the path for 2008
to tackle the USAC Regional Midget series.
Previous winners of
the USAC Kara Hendrick Spirit Award are: Sarah McCune (2003); Erin
Crocker (2004); Sondi Eden (2005); Melanie Troxel (2006); Stephanie
Mockler (2007).
The Opportunity Award was developed to honor racing
teams, race Series and sponsors that create significant opportunities
for women drivers to excel within the industry. The 2008 honorees
are: Bob East for providing opportunities in the USAC Ford Focus
Midget Series; Jim Jordan, Mazda for providing opportunities in
the Mazda Ladder Series; Sam Schmidt Motorsports for providing
opportunities to Ana Beatriz; Mike Ashley/Roger Burgess for providing
opportunities to Melanie Troxel; Newman Wachs Racing for providing
opportunities to Simona De Silvestro; Jon Lewis, American Spirit
Racing for providing opportunities to Cyndie Allmann; Erin Crocker for providing opportunities in the Tobias SpeedSTR Series; Kalitta
Motorsports for providing opportunities to Hillary Will; Golden
State Racing for providing opportunities to Kristin Bumbera.
Previous
winners include: Evernham Motorsports; Rahal Letterman Racing;
Richard Childress Racing; Bobby Hamilton Racing; Frank Pedegron
Racing; Don Schumacher Racing; Roush Racing; and Harold Matthews.
Sponsors
of the 2008 luncheon included: American Honda Motor Company; American
Senior Communities; CARA Charities; Ford Racing; General Motors;
George McAtee; Indianapolis Motor Speedway; Jane A. Potee/Old National
Bank; Just Marketing International; Leo Mehl; Linda Conti/David
A. Noyes & Co.; Mazda North America; NASCAR; Simon Property Group;
The Indianapolis Star Media Group; Toyota; University of Indianapolis;
and Whale Hunting Women. |
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