Gorsline Company Announces 2025 Scholarship Candidates

Braselton, Ga., October 11, 2024 – The Gorsline Company is proud to announce the three exceptional candidates for this year’s prestigious Gorsline Scholarship in racing, which recognizes and rewards young drivers who display exceptional talent and a professional respect for motorsports. This announcement, which celebrates the future of motorsports and the remarkable talents of young racers, will take place during the IMSA Petit Le Mans race weekend at Road Atlanta, October 9-13.

Since its inception in 1994, the Gorsline Scholarship has honored outstanding individuals in the racing community, with previous winners including renowned names like Danica Patrick, Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, Katherine Legge, Patrick Long, Bryan Herta, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., to name a few.

This year, the spotlight shines on three dynamic women racers, all of whom are poised to become future champions in the sport. The recipient of the scholarship will be revealed at the IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring in March 2025.

Kelsey Pinkowski: A member of the Kiwi Crosslink Formula 4 team, Kelsey recently showcased her talent by finishing 2nd at the Watkins Glen SVRA after starting from 7th. Coached by Nic Jonsson, she balances her racing career with her studies in Global Business Management at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she also serves as the Business Associate for RIT’s successful Formula SAE team.

Isabella Robusto: A rising star in the ARCA Menards series with an impressive 10 starts and 6 top ten finishes this season, Isabella began her racing journey at just 5 years old. She is a member of the Toyota Racing Development Program and holds the record for being the youngest driver selected for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program (at age 12). Currently, she is an Aeronautical Engineering major at Arizona State University, having graduated high school a year early.

Lexy Barlow: Demonstrating exceptional race craft and determination, Lexy is advancing through the ranks and has competed in various vintage races. Currently working as a project manager in Norwalk, CT, Lexy embodies the spirit of the Gorsline Company’s mission to support emerging talents in motorsports.

“The Gorsline Company has been committed to the motorsports community for decades, and supporting the next generation of racers is at the heart of our mission,” said John Gorsline, principal of the Gorsline Company. “I am very proud and filled with gratitude about the ability to help these future champions in any way I can. God Bless them. And it’s an honor to spotlight these talented women who exemplify the spirit of competition and dedication to the sport when we present the 25th selection of the award next March at Sebring.”

About the Gorsline Company:
Headquartered in Rochester, NY, the Gorsline Company has been a pioneer in providing insurance for high-risk professionals in motorsports for nearly 50 years. With a focus on custom-designed insurance solutions and estate planning for drivers and team owners, Gorsline has supported some of the top names in racing. The company also awards the Gorsline Scholarship annually to aspiring drivers who display exceptional talent and professionalism, furthering its commitment to the motorsports community.

CONTACT:
John Crofts Gorsline
The Gorsline Company Inc.
2 Eagle Street
Rochester, NY 14608
(585) 232-3725 office
(585) 423-2212 fax
(704) 907-9058 worldwide cell
johng@gorsline.com
gorsline.com

Rick Mears to be Honored by RRDC

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (March 17, 2022) - Rick Mears, four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500® and three-time INDYCAR SERIES champion, will be honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club at the "RRDC Evening with Rick Mears Presented by Firestone" in Long Beach, Calif., on Thursday, April 7. This will be the RRDC's 12th banquet honoring auto racing's most influential leaders and icons, and will be held prior to the 47th Annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

This dinner had been postponed twice, in 2020 and 2021, due to the pandemic, and is now back on schedule for 2022.

Previous RRDC honorees were Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford and David Hobbs. These "RRDC Evenings" are acknowledged as one of the highlights of the auto-racing social calendar, drawing fans and luminaries from all forms of motorsports.

The Firestone brand will return as presenting sponsor of the RRDC banquet for the 11th year.

"Having Firestone support the RRDC Long Beach dinner for more than a decade is a true privilege," said RRDC President Bobby Rahal. "Firestone has an unrivaled heritage in motorsports dating back to the first Indy 500® in 1911. We always welcome Firestone's support, and salute the brand's long-standing success and contributions to the sport."

The dinner's proceeds will help support the RRDC's young driver initiatives, including its groundbreaking SAFEisFAST.com program and the Team USA Scholarship, which the RRDC has backed since 1997 and has been providing opportunities for talented young American race-car drivers since 1990. The Mark Donohue Foundation, a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization, was formed to further support the SAFEisFAST.com initiative. Information about the Foundation can be found on the RRDC's website.

Few drivers have epitomized "The Penske Way" more than Mears during the course of his career with Team Penske, which began in 1978. His 29 INDYCAR wins are tied with Helio Castroneves for the second most by a Team Penske driver, but it was the respectful yet determined way Mears raced and conducted himself that set him apart.

One of four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, Mears also won three INDYCAR SERIES titles with the team in 1979, 1981 and 1982 while becoming an American icon. He remains a valuable member of the team as an advisor and spotter to the current Team Penske contingent competing in the NTT INDYCAR® SERIES.

Rick Mears. Photo credit: Dan R. Boyd for BorgWarner Inc.

He was born in 1951 in Wichita, Kan., then relocated with his family at the age of 4 to Bakersfield, Calif. He began his racing career in the 1960s on motorcycles in Southern California before moving on to four-wheeled "sprint buggies." In 1973 he took seven off-road victories, followed by an overall win at Pikes Peak in 1976. His USAC Championship Car Series debut came with Bill Simpson at Ontario, Calif., that year, after which the car was sold to Art Sugai and Mears failed to qualify the car at the 1977 Indy 500.

Mears met legendary car owner Roger Penske in 1977 and was offered an Indy car ride as a substitute for Mario Andretti in races that conflicted with Andretti's Formula One schedule. In 1978 he started on the front row in his first Indianapolis 500, was named Indy 500 co-rookie of the year, and scored his first three INDYCAR SERIES victories.

In 1979, Mears won his first Indianapolis 500 from the pole and went on to claim his first INDYCAR SERIES championship in the first year under CART (Championship Auto Racing Team) sanction. His second and third titles came back-to-back in 1981 and '82, making him the first driver to capture three PPG Cup crowns. The year 1981 also marked the only time an INDYCAR SERIES driver won every road course event in one season when Mears set race records with each victory at Watkins Glen, Mexico City, and Riverside.

Mears also set a closed-course INDYCAR speed record of 233.934 mph at Michigan International Speedway in 1986 and was recognized in 1990 as the Associated Press "Driver of the Decade" for his 20 wins in the 1980s. In 1992, he was named one of 10 "Champions for Life" by the Driver of the Year Award's panel. He was the youngest driver of this prestigious group.

"Rick has done so much in and for this sport beginning with his time as a motorcycle and off-road racer. His transition to winning races and championships in the INDYCAR SERIES was seamless," said Rahal. "His time and success with 'the Captain' Roger Penske solidified his place in motorsports history, and we at the RRDC are honored to have the opportunity to recognize Rick Mears for all his achievements."

The RRDC Evening with Rick Mears Presented by Firestone will be held on Thursday, April 7, at the Hilton Hotel, 701 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, Calif., with cocktails at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $280 per person ($250 for RRDC members) if purchased by March 28, and space is limited. An additional $20 will be added to cost if paid after March 28. Sponsor packages are also available. All are welcome, but this event is expected to sell out, so early reservations are recommended. Please contact Jeremy Shaw at rrdc2@cox.net.

About Firestone Racing:

The Firestone brand has participated in world-class motorsports events for more than a century, and racing has played an integral role in building and shaping Firestone into the time-tested, iconic brand it is today. Harvey Firestone, the brand's founder and a pioneer of sports marketing, was one of the first to use racing as the ultimate proving ground for his tires. Ever since Ray Harroun's Firestone-equipped Marmon Wasp won the inaugural Indianapolis 500® in 1911, Firestone has worked to constantly evolve and advance race tire technology. Overall, Firestone tires have carried the winner of the Indy 500 to victory circle 72 times - more than double all other tire manufacturers combined. Firestone has served as INDYCAR's sole tire supplier since 2000, and the brand's on-track success translates to durable, dependable performance and uncompromising quality on the open road.

About the RRDC:

The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the RRDC launched a free on-line training seminar – SAFEisFAST.com – featuring more than 30 RRDC members and other industry experts in high-quality videos covering subjects from physical and mental preparation to driving techniques, driver safety to car setup and sponsorship. The videos are updated regularly. Each week, a professional from the world of motor racing answers readers' questions on the site in a feature called 'Ask a Pro.'

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990.

Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only. Additional information on the organization may be found at rrdc.org.

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY: Judy Stropus

COVER PHOTO BY: Dan R. Boyd for BorgWarner Inc.

Scott Atherton Earns RRDC's 2021 Phil Hill Award

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 27, 2022) - Scott Atherton, former President of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club with the 2021 Phil Hill Award. The 2019 award recipient, RRDC President Bobby Rahal, made the presentation at the annual RRDC members' dinner on January 26 prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The Phil Hill Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the person who the RRDC feels has rendered outstanding service to road racing. The recipient may be a driver, entrant or outstanding member of a sanctioning body.

It is named in honor of America's first Formula 1 World Champion (in 1961), and is not only a tribute to his masterful accomplishments on the race track, it also recognizes his contributions as a great ambassador for the sport. Hill passed away in 2008.

Scott Atherton, left, receives the RRDC Phil Hill Award from RRDC president Bobby Rahal.

(Brian Cleary photo)

Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Scott Atherton was best described by the evening's Master of Ceremonies, Bob Varsha, as "a four-decade veteran of motorsports with a unique perspective on the entirety of road racing: as a race-car driver, track General Manager, CEO at Panoz Motor Sports Group overseeing the creation of championship-winning race cars, building the American Le Mans Series, spending two decades as President of the International Motor Sport Association, and so much more."

The "so much more" includes racing go-karts and Formula Fords, working with Tom Gloy's three-car Formula Atlantic team, and taking on CART team and event title sponsorship responsibilities for Domino's Pizza, "where I first met Bobby Rahal, among others, in 1985," he said.

"I spent a total of nine years with Domino's Pizza, but my real passion was not the pizza business, it was road racing," Atherton said. He soon became President and General Manager of Laguna Seca Raceway until "Roger Penske called and I left to become President/General Manager of Nazareth (Pa,) Speedway, a part of Penske Motorsports, and eventually ended up as President of California Speedway in Fontana."

Penske Motorsports Inc. was soon acquired by International Speedway Corporation. "After Penske Motorsports was acquired by ISC I left California Speedway in 2000 to join Don Panoz." Atherton added. He became President and CEO of Panoz Motor Sports Group, which consisted of IMSA, the American Le Mans Series, Road Atlanta, Sebring Raceway, Mosport, GForce (an IRL constructor), Van Diemen, Elan Composites and Elan Power.

"The ALMS became the premier professional sports-car racing championship in North America, the tracks thrived and we earned multiple Indy 500 wins and IRL Championships with Chip Ganassi, Rahal Letterman and Team Penske.

"In 2012 I worked directly with Jim France and Ed Bennett to negotiate the sale of Panoz Motor Sports Group to NASCAR, merging the ALMS and Grand-Am Series into the IMSA Tudor (Now WeatherTech) SportsCar Championship. It was the most difficult process I've ever experienced, but it was the catalyst that enabled sports-car racing to be where it is today – stronger than ever."

Finally, after 38 years in professional motorsports and 20 years as President of IMSA, Atherton retired in 2019. He remains on the Board of Directors of IMSA, is on the Board of Directors of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and has a motorsports consulting business currently involved in several projects.

He lives in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, with Nancy, his wife of 35 years.

"I can't put into words how thrilled I am to have been chosen to receive the Phil Hill Award," he said. "I was literally shaking when Bobby called me with the news. While I consider myself a race fan across many genres, road racing has always been at my core and my only true passion. And to be recognized by my peers for making a contribution to the betterment of road racing is truly a dream come true for me."

"When you think of class and of accomplishment, you think of Phill Hill. He was a fantastic person who gave a lot back to the sport we love," said Rahal.

"I don't know how many trophies you have in your cabinet, Scott, but they're going to be second to this one. This is the coolest award going.

"When we discussed who's really deserving of this award, it really became clear to us that Scott was the guy. We've been friends since the early '80s. He went to work at Nazareth for Roger (Penske), then he went to Fontana to work for Roger, and then he came here with ALMS. Every step of the way he's had tremendous positions of responsibility, and he did a great job.



"Scott, this is a very well-deserved award. I thank you for all you've done."

Past RRDC Phil Hill Award Winners include:

1993 John Bishop

1994 Juan Manuel Fangio II

1995 Leo Mehl

1996 Charlie Slater

1997 Danny Sullivan

1998 Rob Dyson

1999 Bob Fergus

2000 Elliott Forbes Robinson

2001 Bill France

2002 Jim Downing

2003 Derek Bell

2004 Brian Redman

2005 Jim France

2006 Roger Werner

2007 Skip Barber

2008 Roger Penske

2009 Bob Bondurant

2010 Nick Craw

2011 Rick Mears

2012 George Follmer

2013 Peter Brock

2014 Hurley Haywood

2015 Vic Elford

2016 Scott Pruett

2017 Chip Ganassi

2018 David Hobbs

2019 Bobby Rahal

2020 Jack Roush

About the RRDC:

The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the RRDC launched a free on-line training seminar – www.SAFEisFAST.com – featuring more than 30 RRDC members and other industry experts in high-quality videos covering subjects from physical and mental preparation to driving techniques, driver safety to car setup and sponsorship. The videos are updated regularly. Each week, a professional from the world of motor racing answers readers' questions on the site in a feature called 'Ask a Pro.'

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990.

Written by Judy Stropus.

Jeremy Shaw is RRDC's Bob Akin Award Winner

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 27, 2022) - Jeremy Shaw, motorsports writer, commentator and founder of the Team USA Scholarship, was named the 2020 recipient of the RRDC Bob Akin Award. He was honored at the annual Road Racing Drivers Club members' dinner on January 26, prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

A recipient of the Bob Akin Award was not selected for 2021. The next presentation will be made in 2023 recognizing the 2022 honoree.

Each recipient of this honor, considered the top prize in motorsports for amateur, vintage/historic or semi-professional drivers, is selected by Akin's son Bobby, RRDC members Brian Redman and Judy Stropus, and approved by RRDC president Bobby Rahal.

The distinctive trophy was conceived by the RRDC in 2003 to honor the memory of longtime RRDC member and past president Bob Akin, who lost his life following a testing accident in 2002.

It was designed by Steuben Glass in Corning, N.Y., and is given to a driver who best exemplifies the extraordinary qualities and characteristics that Akin represented, including a passion for motorsports and automobiles, a high level of sportsmanship and fair play, and who has contributed to the sport of motor racing and the community

at large.

Jeremy Shaw, founder of Team USA Scholarship, became the 18th recipient of the RRDC Bob Akin Award.

(Mike Levitt photo)

RRDC president Bobby Rahal and Akin Award Committee Chairman Judy Stropus accept the Akin Award on behalf of Jeremy Shaw. (Brian Cleary photo)

The primary award, etched with the names of the recipients, is displayed at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Each honoree receives a smaller replica.

Jeremy Shaw has been writing and commentating about motorsports since the early 1970s, developing a passion in his native England while attending school just a few miles from the Silverstone circuit. He began as a contributor to Motoring News, and, after several years on the staff at Autosport, moved to California in 1985 to be editorial director at On Track Magazine.

He later branched out into commentary, initially on the Indy Car Radio Network. After the demise of CART/Champ Car in 2008 he joined IMSA Radio.

Shaw co-authored "Nigel Mansell's Indy Car Racing" in 1993 and was the editor of the Autocourse Champ Car Yearbook from 1993 until 2006. He continues to provide editorial content for the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires driver development.

He's competed in a variety of cars and races since the late 1970s, scoring two wins and a lap record in English saloon car races, a class victory in the Snetterton 24 Hours, and an ice racing class win at Eau Claire, Wis. He also enjoyed success in SCCA Racetruck, Sports 2000, American City Racing League, vintage Formula Ford, and claimed over 50 awards in the "Masters" class in the Pacific F2000 Championship in 2006 and 2008.

Seeing an opportunity to give back to the sport, Shaw launched the highly acclaimed Team USA Scholarship program in 1990 to assist young American drivers during the early stages of their careers. To date, more than 50 drivers have been Team USA Scholarship recipients, including Jimmy Vasser, Bryan Herta, Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, Kyle Kirkwood, Andy Lally and Oliver Askew. The RRDC supports the Team USA Scholarship.

Although unable to attend the dinner, Shaw was presented the award by Committee Chairman Judy Stropus. and a video was shown of Shaw's acceptance.

Stropus read comments from Bobby Akin, also not in attendance, during the presentation. "One of my dad's big things was helping young people. Both in racing, like getting tires at Lime Rock for a young Sam Posey, or his tireless work for Hackley School in Tarrytown, N.Y., where he had attended as a kid and wanted to give others a chance," said Akin.

"Our winner exemplifies those traits. He is also a world-class motorsports writer and I had the pleasure of watching him develop as an on-air talent at SPEED Channel.

"His work with young drivers is the stuff of legend. Many of the talent in this room owe our winner a huge debt of gratitude. The Team USA Scholarship has been bringing some of the best young American drivers to Europe for many years and none of that would have been possible without Jeremy Shaw.

"As a driver, well, he was modest, but the one thing he can say, which not many can, is that he beat David Hobbs!"

"Wow, what an honor!," said Shaw. "Bob Akin was a proper old-school gentleman, someone I always looked up to and enjoyed seeing around the racing paddocks. It’s hard to believe almost 20 years have flown by since his passing.

"He was truly a class act and even to be mentioned in the same sentence as him means the world to me.

"I know he would approve of what we have done with the Team USA Scholarship over the past three decades. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to a great many people in the racing community for making it possible and for sustaining it over all these years. It has been a great pleasure to point some very talented youngsters in the right direction.

"In particular, I would like to thank Bobby Akin, Judy Stropus and Brian Redman for this tremendous honor, and thanks also to the many members of the Road Racing Drivers Club for their continued support and encouragement."

Shaw resides in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Past RRDC Bob Akin Award honorees:

2003 - Sam Posey

2004 - Charlie Gibson

2005 - John Fitch

2006 - Jim Haynes

2007 - Cameron Argetsinger

2008 - Jim Downing

2009 - Steven J. Earle

2010 - Augie Pabst

2011 - Don Knowles

2012 - Miles Collier

2013 - Peter Sachs

2014 - Bill Warner

2015 - Judy Stropus

2016 - Murray Smith

2017 - Archie Urciuoli

2018 - Jeff Zwart

2019 - Rob Dyson

About the RRDC:

The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the RRDC launched a free on-line training seminar – www.SAFEisFAST.com – featuring more than 30 RRDC members and other industry experts in high-quality videos covering subjects from physical and mental preparation to driving techniques, driver safety to car setup and sponsorship. The videos are updated regularly. Each week, a professional from the world of motor racing answers readers' questions on the site in a feature called 'Ask a Pro.'

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990.

Written by Judy Stropus.

Spencer Brockman and Scott Twomey Presented with 50th and 51st RRDC Mark Donohue Awards for their 2020 and 2021 SCCA Runoffs Performances

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 28, 2022) - Spencer Brockman and Scott Twomey were named the 50th and 51st recipients of the RRDC Mark Donohue Award. This unique award is presented annually by the Road Racing Drivers Club for outstanding performance, competitiveness and sportsmanship during the Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs®. It is voted on by RRDC members attending the Runoffs and/or viewing them live online.

There was no RRDC members' dinner held in 2021, due to the pandemic, so both awards were presented at this year’s event at the 500 Club at Daytona International Speedway on January 26, prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Brockman, of Westport, Connecticut, was first up to receive the honor from Calvin Stewart, the 2015 Mark Donohue Award winner and award committee chairman. Driving the No. 34 Mazda of Milford/Hoosier Swift 014a Mazda at the 2020 Runoffs, Brockman had started from the Formula Atlantic class pole and after a spirited 13-lap race swapping the lead with two other drivers, he claimed his first Runoffs win by a 2.216-second margin on Road America’s 4.048-mile circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Brockman recognized his father, Mike Brockman, an RRDC member who died in 2019, in the winner’s circle. “This win is for my dad,” he said.

“With my father having a career in racing and his personal relationship with Mark, I grew up knowing about Mark, reading about him. He was one of those drivers who seemed to be a step above everyone else in the field. He was achieving things that others weren’t. It was something I could always look up to. Just to be mentioned in the same conversation with him and to receive the Mark Donohue Award, I can’t even explain what it means to me. It’s a very special award for me tonight, absolutely,” said Brockman.

Twomey’s victory, from second place on the GT-Lite grid, came at the 2021 SCCA Runoffs held on the 2.592-mile road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Twomey, from Tacoma, Washington, earned his first career gold medal driving the No. 11 Poulsbo RV/Pat’s Autosport/Top Tech Nissan Tercel. He and pole sitter Chris Bovis were side by side entering the final turn following a race-long battle, with Twomey taking the win after 19 laps by a 1.033-second margin.

“I follow a lot of racing history and I know what Mark Donohue meant to the sport and so it’s a really big honor to have my name affiliated with his on on award. Very, very special,” said Twomey.

RRDC president Bobby Rahal, a Runoffs champion (1975 Formula B) long before he won the 1986 Indianapolis 500, emphasized the RRDC Mark Donohue Award is “about personal spirit and performance behind the wheel. Those qualities are more important for this award than winning the race,” he said. “The RRDC honors Spencer and Scott not only for their outstanding drives to win, but for their passion for the sport they’ve embraced and for being so cool under pressure.”

Every year, the RRDC Mark Donohue trophy is an engraved glass top mounted on a special, racing-experienced wheel, provided by an RRDC member. The wheels for the 2020 and 2021 awards were donated by RRDC member Wayne Taylor.

One of the wheels was from the No. 7 Acura Team Penske ARX-05, driven by Ricky Taylor and Helio Castroneves, the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech DPi champions and race winners that year at Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio and twice at Road America.

The other wheel was from the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05, driven to victory by Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Alexander Rossi and Helio Castroneves at the 2021 Rolex 24 At Daytona and at Mid-Ohio and Laguna Seca. They also became the 2021 Michelin Endurance champions.

About the RRDC: The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the RRDC launched a free on-line training seminar – www.SAFEisFAST.com – featuring more than 30 RRDC members and other industry experts in high-quality videos covering subjects from physical and mental preparation to driving techniques, driver safety to car setup and sponsorship. The videos are updated regularly. Each week, a professional from the world of motor racing answers readers' questions on the site in a feature called 'Ask a Pro.'

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990.

Written by Judy Stropus.