THE NATIONAL DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP RECOGNITION DINNER TO BENEFIT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO PRESENTED BY COOPER INDUSTRIES	Use the Free Windows Media Player to view this show.
	View This Years Event (January 14, 2000)

Since 1975 one of motorsport's BIGGEST events has taken place in, of all places, Chicago, in the middle of winter. The annual mid-January dinner event honors all the champions of America's major auto racing series.

The dinner's attendance list of both honorees and guests is a Who's Who from all areas of the motorsports community. The BIGGEST NAMES IN MOTORSPORTS from the world of U.S. auto racing including: NASCAR Winston Cup, NASCAR Busch, the CART/PPG Indy Car World Series, (IROC) International Race Of Champions, (NHRA) National Hot Rod Association, (IRL) Indy Racing League, World of Outlaws and the Champions of the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 by STP join long time emcee's Ken Squier and Paul Page to be honored with many other stars of the sport in attendance. There is also a special Chicagoland Merit Award presented to a deserving recipient from the Chicagoland motorsports community.

The awards dinner also includes an Autograph Alley presented by Valvoline with driver autograph sessions and show cars on display which takes place prior to the dinner and a live and silent auction which take place during and after dinner.

It is always an evening to remember. Thanks you in advance for your interest in this most worthy fundraising event which provides educational benefits and recreation opportunities for disadvantaged children who live in the Lathrop Homes, a Chicago Public Housing Project.

Ticket donations are sold per person, per Table of Ten, by Patron's Table, and Champion's Table. Proceeds directly benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago - Daniel A. Cotter Club. To purchase your tickets throughout the year or for more information call Sue Potenza at (312) 695-5593 fax at (312) 695-6527.

Dinner Facts and Historical Information

The dinner was conceived and founded in 1975 by Dan Cotter, President and CEO of Cotter & Company. Dan got the idea while traveling in England, having attended a similar charity event. The first driver's recognition dinner was held at Cathedral Hall in the University Club of Chicago and was attended by 72 race fans. Cotter & Company's national headquarters was previously located on the north side of Chicago near the oldest public housing project in the city, the Julia C. Lathrop Homes. Acting as a good neighbor, Cotter & Company has been instrumental in the funding of the local chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs at the Julia C. Lathrop Unit since 1962. The Boys & Girls Club Lathrop unit was renamed The Daniel A. Cotter Boys & Girls Club in 1997.

Each year the driver's recognition dinner raises over $ 125,000.00 for the club.

True Serve, the retail identity of Cotter & Company, is a NASCAR Series sponsor.

Past Driver Honorees include;

Bobby Allison Davey Allison Joe Amato Mario Andretti Jack Baldwin Johnny Benson Kenny Bernstein Gary Bettenhausen Mike Bliss Geoff Bodine Geoff Brabham Wally Dallenbach

Dale Earnhardt Bill Elliott Emerson Fittapaldi John Force A.J. Foyt Harry Gant David Green Steve Grissom Jeff Gordon Hurley Haywood Eddie Hill David Hobbs

Al Holbert Warren Johnson Gordon Johncock Scott Kaletta Tommy Kendall Alan Kulwicki Terry Labonte Randy LaJoie Arie Luyendyke Sterling Marlin Mark Martin Rick Mears

Gary Ormby John Paul Jr Cruz Pedregon Ed Pimm Scott Pruett Bobby Rahal Brian Redman Chip Robinson Ricky Rudd Johnny Rutherford Dorsey Schroeder Scott Sharp

Jimmy Sill Tom Sneva Tony Stewart Danny Sullivan Al Unser Jr Al Unser Sr Jacques Villeneuve Rusty Wallace Darrell Waltrip Cale Yarborough JimYates