NASCAR-WCUP: Jeff Gordon Receives Racing Writers' Top Honor
21 January 1999
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In a fast-paced two-hour program, the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) honored the 1998 Auto Racing All-America Team Jan. 16 at the Long Beach Renaissance Hotel.
Gordon, unable to be present, expressed his appreciation for the award in a videotaped message. The Titus Award is presented to the driver who receives the most votes, regardless of category, in the annual balloting for the AARWBA Auto Racing All-America Team. Gordon becomes only the fifth driver -- the first from NASCAR -- to win the Titus Award more than once, following Al Unser Jr. (1990, 1994), Mario Andretti (1977, 1978, 1984), Johnny Rutherford (1974, 1980) and Mark Donohue (1971, 1973).
Bob Bondurant, the keynote speaker, regaled the audience with stories from his all-too-brief racing career.
Drivers present to accept the "Horsepower" Award as members of the 1998 All-America Team were NHRA Top Fuel Champion Gary Scelzi, NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force, U.S. Formula 2000 Champion David Besnard, SCCA Trans-Am Champion Paul Gentilozzi and PSCR World Sports Car Champion Butch Leitzinger.
Besnard, an Australian import, was also given the John Gorsline Talent Scholarship to further his racing career.
Also elected to the team were IRL Champion Kenny Brack; CART FedEx Series Champion Alessandro Zanardi; Winston Cup runner-up Mark Martin; NASCAR Busch Series champ Dale Earnhardt Jr.; NASCAR Truck Series champ Ron Hornaday Jr.; and Dayton Indy Lights Champion Cristiano da Matta.
So dominant were both Gordon, in winning his third Winston Cup in four years, and Martin, his closest pursuer, that they placed first and third overall in the balloting. Gordon received 85 votes from the AARWBA membership to 74 for Zanardi, 70 for Martin, 69 for Force and 59 for Earnhardt as the top five in the final tally.
The banquet, which is always open to the public and yet one of the undiscovered opportunities by many racing fans, also presented honors to Los Angeles Times Motor Sports Writer Shav Glick and NASCAR Executive Vice President Les Richter, both of whom received standing ovations as they received their plaques honoring service to motorsport. Also honored was Chris Pook and the upcoming Silver Anniversary edition of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Among luminaries present in the crowd of more than 300 were 1996 Titus winner Tom Kendall, Dan Gurney, George Follmer and Jerry Grant as well as representatives from banquet co-sponsors California Speedway, Ford, Goodyear, Honda, Irwindale Speedway, NHRA, Pep Boys Indy Racing League, Prolong and Toyota.
Life memberships in AARWBA were presented to Glick, Rick Titus, Deke Houlgate and Rae Gabelich.
The 29th annual All-America Race Team Banquet was co-chaired by veteran publicist Houlgate and Gabelich, widow of land speed record driver Gary Gabelich. Rick Titus, Jerry's son, presented the Titus Award. A silent auction of racing memorabilia raised money for the Dave Overpeck Scholarship, the AARWBA's charity. The evening's master of ceremonies was NHRA announcer Dave McClelland.
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