Wed, 17 Nov 1999, 06:03 AM NHRA Honors Champions, Recognizes Heroes

By Ed Dykes At the 1999 Winston Awards Ceremony

CERRITOS, Calif. -- The National Hot Rod Association capped its 1999 season with a black-tie awards ceremony Tuesday night at the majestic Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, as the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body honored the Winston and Federal-Mogul Champions, remembered heroes of its past century, and celebrated the beginning of the next millennium of drag racing.

The evening featured performances by a group billed as 'Beach Boys Family and Friends', which included original 'Beach Boy' Al Jardine, two of his sons, and Wendy and Carnie Wilson. The theme for the evening was a futuristic one, with a set resembling a spaceship, along with lasers and music from "2001: A Space Odyssey" to start the show.

The evening began with the presentation of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Series champions. Rick Santos (Federal-Mogul Dragster), Frank Manzo (Federal-Mogul Funny Car), Andy Manna (Comp Eliminator), Jimmy DeFrank (Super Stock); Don Little (Stock); Frank Kohutek (Super Comp), and Sheldon Gecker (Super Gas) all earned 1999 titles, and each was afforded time at the podium to recognize their sponsors, family, and friends.

Outgoing NHRA President Dallas Gardner was honored several times during the evening, including a tribute from the organization's founder, Wally Parks. Gardner was presented the prestigious Don Prudhomme award for his dedication as the leader of the sanctioning body during the last two decades, and he received a special award of recognition for his many years of dedicated service from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco's Sports Marketing Enterprises. Gardner will make the transition to the position of NHRA's Chairman of the Board at the beginning of the new year.

Newly appointed NHRA president Tom Compton told the audience that the details of a major television package for the 2000 season would be announced in the near future, but he disclosed that the multi-year package will feature live or same day national event coverage on two major television networks, ESPN2 and TNN, with plans calling for the return of a magazine-style TV show to be aired 24 times in 2000, one in each of the weeks leading up to the association's 24 major events.

Funny Car driver Scotty Cannon headed the list of special award winners, claiming the $20,000 Winston Rookie of the Year title. Pro Stock Motorcycle's Antron Brown captured the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, also worth $20,000.

Top Fuel driver Jim Head was presented the Blaine Johnson award for his dedication and perseverance in the sport. Head, one of the most innovative minds in drag racing, was instrumental in assisting NHRA with many track improvement projects during the last two years.

The T. Wayne Robertson Good Hand award was presented to R.J. Reynolds' Cliff Pennell, who guided Sports Marketing Enterprises following the death of T. Wayne Robertson nearly two years ago.

The inaugural NHRA Pro Stock Truck Manufacturer's Cup was presented to Chevrolet, and was accepted by Alba Colon, who was recently-named GM Drag Racing Program Manager. For the third consecutive year, Pontiac earned the NHRA Manufacturers Cup and Pontiac Motorsports Manager Fred Simmonds did a exemplary job of accepting the honor.

This year's NHRA Media Award winners were TNN's Raceday, accepted by host Rick Benjamin, and Steve Ramirez of the San Gabriel (Calif.) Valley Tribune.

With all the preliminaries out of the way, all that was left was the recognition of the Winston champions. Tony Schumacher, John Force, Warren Johnson, Matt Hines and Bob Panella Jr. were all presented checks and trophyware for their accomplishments in their respective pro categories. Schumacher received a check for $200,000 from Winston for earning his first-ever Top Fuel crown, while Force walked off stage with his ninth champion's prize of $200,000. Johnson netted $125,000 for his fifth Pro Stock championship, while Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Hines and Pro Stock Truck champ Panella were presented checks for $30,000 each.

Due to constraints provided by the television production (which is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN2 Sunday, Nov. 28, from 3:30-4:30p.m. EST), there were several lengthy intervals where the audience was left waiting for action. As a result the protracted ceremony stretched well over three hours, then was followed by a reception sponsored by Winston and Budweiser in the nearby Sheraton, where the evening's winners were able to relax and accept accolades from their peers, before everyone returns home to begin preparations for next year, when we'll do it all over again.

(Click here for 1999 NHRA Winston Champions photo from the ceremony.)




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