Team Penske’s Anniversary Celebration

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 24, 2016) – Dignitaries from the motorsports industry will join in tribute to Roger Penske on June 30 when he receives the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for Outstanding Contributions to Motorsports.
 
Penske will receive the award from the International Motor Racing Research Center at a dinner presented by NASCAR, International Speedway Corp., Watkins Glen International and IMSA and supported by Sahlen’s. The dinner will be at the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, N.Y.
 
A limited number of tickets remains available by contacting the Racing Research Center at (607) 535-9044 by the end of the day June 27.
 
The award memorializes Cameron R. Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races at Watkins Glen. Multi-team owner and former driver Chip Ganassi was the first recipient of the Argetsinger Award in 2014. NASCAR icon Richard Petty was the 2015 honoree.
 
The award will be presented by members of the Argetsinger family.
 
Penske, a champion driver before launching a 50-year career as a team owner, is being honored for having advanced and improved the sport. The award recognizes Penske for bringing prestige to motorsports and demonstrating commitment to the future of racing.
 
Longtime race reporter Dr. Jerry Punch will be the master of ceremonies for a program that includes remarks from Joe Sahlen, president of Sahlen’s, a key dinner supporter which also is sponsoring the Six Hours of The Glen IMSA race weekend at Watkins Glen International June 30-July 3.
 
Bobby Rahal, who serves as chairman of the Racing Research Center’s Governing Council, also will speak. Rahal is a three-time CART champion and one of only three to win the Indianapolis 500 as a driver and an owner.
 
"I feel privileged to help honor a true icon of the sport who has been so influential in a number of racing series for 50 years," Rahal said. "I cannot think of any other driver and/or team owner who has accomplished as much as Roger has and who continues to leave his mark in the sport that we all love."
 
Other speakers will be Scott Atherton, president and COO of IMSA, International Motor Sports Association; Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International; and Jay Frye, President of INDYCAR Competition and Operations. Lisa Noble, president of SCCA, Sports Car Club of America, and Walt Czarnecki, executive vice president of Penske Corp. and vice chairman of Team Penske, also are slated to be speakers.
 
Team Penske current and former race-car drivers are expected to be part of the program as well.
 
Video tributes from several motorsports notables will be shown, including an engaging video written and narrated by Sam Posey, a former Team Penske driver.
 
Other highlights of the evening will include the live auction of a commissioned painting by motorsports artist Randy Owens depicting significant cars from Penske’s career. 
 
A silent auction will feature photographs of memorable Team Penske moments. Author Gordon Kirby and former Penske Racing mechanic Karl Kainhofer will be there with Kirby’s new book “Penske’s Maestro: Karl Kainhofer and the History of Penske Racing,” for sale and signing.
 
Three cars from Team Penske’s history will be on display, including the Sunoco Eagle driven by the legendary Mark Donohue, who was Penske’s winningest driver.
 
In addition to NASCAR, ISC, WGI, IMSA and Sahlen’s, award dinner sponsors and supporters are Corning Incorporated, Bosch, Corning Auto Glass, Chip Ganassi Racing, Elmira Savings Bank, Paul Miller Auto Group, Porsche, SCCA, Sunoco, Welliver and Glenora Wine Cellars.
 
The Racing Research Center is an archival library dedicated to the preservation and sharing of the history of motorsports, of all series and all venues, through its collections of books, periodicals, films, photographs, fine art and other materials. The Center is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.
 
For more information about the Racing Research Center's work and its programs, visitwww.racingarchives.org or call 607-535-9044. The Center also is on Facebook at International Motor Racing Research Center.  
 
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