AARWBA Announces 50th Anniversary All America Team

50th Aniversary Information

The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association is the oldest and largest organization of its kind.

Founded in 1955 in Indianapolis, AARWBA has reached the stature of the football and baseball press associations. Because so many support the aims and programs of AARWBA, it has grown to more than 400 members throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

Each year the AARWBA members select a 14-driver All America Team from Open Wheel, Stock Car, Sports Car, Drag Racing, Short Track, Touring Series and At Large championship categories. An annual banquet is held to honor these drivers each January.

The driver receiving the most votes is presented the "Jerry Titus Memorial Award™," which is AARWBA's "Driver of the Year" award. Jerry Titus was a member of AARWBA who was a motor sports journalist and a winning race driver.

Also announced at the All America Banquet is the winner of the annual Gorsline Scholarship, a scholarship for young drivers presented by the Gorsline Company.

Occasionally, the Rick Mears "Winning Ways" award is presented to a racing driver who has been 'winning' with the media, the Bloys Britt Award is presented to a journalist for an unusual story and the "Straight Shooters" Award is presented to someone deserving by AARWBA's Photographers' Committee.

The Association presents the humorous Jigger Sirois Award and the Angelo Angelopolous Sportsmanship Award at the annual Indianapolis breakfast meeting. Another award, given when merited, is the "Comeback Driver of the Year," which goes to the driver who comes back from adversity to race again.

AARWBA also presents Special Awards from time to time to honor those who have made special contributions to motor sport.

AARWBA has established the Legends in Racing Auto Racing Hall of Fame, to honor those who have made motor racing one of the largest spectator sports in America.

To encourage excellence in the coverage of motor sports, media members submit their best motor racing work for the annual media contest. Categories are for written, broadcast and photographic work. Entries are judged by an independent panel from a major journalism school. The winners are a true testament to the growth of the sport of auto racing.

In honor of the late Dave Overpeck, an outstanding motor sports reporter for the Indianapolis Star and former AARWBA President, AARWBA provides a scholarship at Indiana State University to an incoming freshman journalism student. Read about the scholarship.