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SCCA: Gentilozzi, Simo, Besnard Nominated for AARWBA All-America Team Ballot

24 November 1998

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.-Trans-Am drivers Paul Gentilozzi and Brian Simo have been nominated as Road Racing candidates for the 1998 Auto Racing All-America Team by the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association (AARWBA). U.S. F2000 National Championship driver David Besnard has been nominated as an At Large candidate.

Gentilozzi's seven wins, eight podiums, nine poles, and nine fastest race laps, including nine race and qualifying records, earned the Trans-Am veteran his first career Drivers' Championship. Simo recorded the first two wins of his career in the final two events, while earning six podium finsihes, two poles and one fastest race lap to finish runner-up in the Trans-Am Championship for the second consecutive year.

Besnard set a U.S. F2000 single-season record for race wins (eight), and poles (eight), while scoring seven fastest race laps, four flag-to-flag and two clean sweeps to win both the National and Oval Crown Championships.

The AARWBA All-America Team annually recognizes the top-12 drivers from the motorsports year. Votes are collected from the AARWBA membership in six categories--road racing, stock car racing, open wheel racing, drag racing, short track and at large. In addition to the All-America Team, the balloting will also determine a second team, drivers placing third and fourth in each category, and honorable mentions to all drivers receiving at least five percent of the vote.

AARWBA All-America Team honorees and the All-America Team's driver of the year-who receives the Jerry Titus Award-will be announced and recognized at the All-America Team Banquet at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, Calif., on Jan. 16, 1999. The banquet is open to the public. Ticket information is available from AARWBA, 922 N. Pass Ave., Burbank, Calif. 91505, or call (818) 842-7005.

This season is the first year that Gentilozzi, Simo or Besnard have been nominated for AARWBA All-America Team honors.

Three previous SCCA Pro Racing drivers have been honored with the Jerry Titus award-Mark Donohue, 1971 (Trans-Am) and '73 (Can-Am); George Follmer, 1972 (Trans-Am and Can-Am), and Tom Kendall, 1997 (Trans-Am).