GLENDORA, Calif. (Oct. 23, 2015) – Six rookie drivers representing three NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series categories, Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock, were announced today by officials from NHRA and Automobile Club of Southern California as the eligible candidates for the 2015 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award.
The award, which recognizes the top rookie competitor in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and offers a $20,000 prize and traditional trophy to the winner, will be presented during NHRA’s annual championship awards ceremony on Monday, Nov. 16 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, Calif. More than 200 of the nation’s leading auto racing journalists will select the winner through a voting system based on the following criteria: number of events participated, performance on and off the racetrack, participation in NHRA promotions and relationships with fans, sponsors and media.
The candidates for the prestigious award are, in alphabetical order: John Bojec (Funny Car); Bo Butner (Pro Stock); Jenna Haddock (Top Fuel); John Hale (Funny Car); Alan Prusiensky (Pro Stock); and Drew Skillman (Pro Stock).
“For more than 100 years the Automobile Club of Southern California has represented integrity, commitment and professionalism to our millions of members. The Road to the Future Award has come to symbolize these same attributes in the sport of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing,” said Robert T. Bouttier, president and CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California. “To be nominated recognizes not only that a rookie driver had a noteworthy first season, but also that they demonstrated exceptional potential for the future. We congratulate all six of the candidates for this year’s award and look forward to enjoying their achievements both on and off the race track for many years to come.”
Bojec, 50, a resident of Mentor, Ohio, is making his way in the Funny Car ranks. He raced to a semifinal finish in Reading, upsetting two-time and defending world champ Matt Hagan and Tim Wilkerson in the process. He has qualified for four races in the season, including the prestigious U.S. Nationals. Bojec also raced to career-best performances of 4.132 seconds and 302.82 mph at the national event in St. Louis.
Butner, 41, of Floyds Knob, Ind., is part of the KB Racing Pro Stock brigade that also includes four-time world champ Greg Anderson and two-time world champ Jason Line. He has had a successful season, highlighted by back-to-back semifinal finishes at St. Louis and Reading. He also has reached at least the quarterfinals five times this season. His career-best performances of 6.475 achieved at Dallas and 213.77 at Reading.
Haddock, 31, of Temple, Texas, made her debut last season, but is running for rookie of the year honors this season in Top Fuel. She has qualified for seven events in 2015 and clocked career-best performances of 3.913 and 307.02 at Englishtown. In addition to her driving duties, she is also a crew member on her husband Terry’s Funny Car team.
Funny Car driver Hale, 50, of Addison, Texas, races for the renowned Jim Dunn Racing operation, driving a Dodge Charger. He has qualified for all but one race this season, with a career-best runner-up finish at Gainesville in March. His car has been capable of racing with the best, reaching the quarterfinals on five different occasions. He posted career-best performances of 4.038 at Topeka and 311.92 at Las Vegas 1.
Prusiensky, 42, from Rockaway, N.J., has reached two quarterfinals in his debut season, defeating defending world champ Erica Enders both times in the first round. He has qualified for seven races and clocked career-best performances of 6.615 and 210.50 at Englishtown.
Skillman, 29, a native of Greenwood, Ind., claimed his first career victory in Pro Stock at St. Louis, defeating teammate Enders in the final. He was successful right out of the gate, reaching the final round at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals in his first career Pro Stock start. In addition, he finished runner-up at the U.S. Nationals, drag racing’s most prestigious event. Skillman, who qualified for the 2015 Countdown to the Championship playoff, has claimed No. 1 qualifying positions at Chicago, Reading and Dallas.
In 2002 the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award and the NHRA Rookie of the Year Award were combined to create one award recognizing the future stars of the sport. Past winners of the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award have developed into some of NHRA’s biggest stars, including Tony Pedregon (1996, Funny Car), Ron Capps (1997, Funny Car), Doug Kalitta (1998, Top Fuel), Antron Brown (1999, Pro Stock Motorcycle), Melanie Troxel (2000, Top Fuel), GT Tonglet (2001, Pro Stock Motorcycle), Gene Wilson (2002, Pro Stock); Brandon Bernstein (2003, Top Fuel); Jason Line (2004, Pro Stock); Robert Hight (2005, Funny Car); J.R. Todd (2006, Top Fuel); Ashley Force Hood (2007, Funny Car); Mike Neff (2008, Funny Car); Spencer Massey (2009, Top Fuel); L.E. Tonglet (2010, Pro Stock Motorcycle); Hector Arana Jr. (2011, Pro Stock Motorcycle); Courtney Force (2012, Funny Car); Brittany Force (2013, Top Fuel); and Richie Crampton (2014, Top Fuel).
NHRA Rookie of the Year winners prior to the merger of the two awards included the late Darrell Russell (2001, Top Fuel), Don Lampus (2000, Top Fuel), Scotty Cannon (1999, Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin (1998, Pro Stock), Gary Scelzi (1997, Top Fuel) and co-winners in 1996, Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Matt Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
In addition to the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, the company is the title sponsor for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 12-15 at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The company also is a major sponsor for John Force Racing, providing primary sponsorship for the Chevy Camaro SS driven by Hight, as well as associate sponsorship for the Camaros driven by John and Courtney Force. In addition, the company is the presenting sponsor for the California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, as well as the presenting sponsor for the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest member of the AAA federation of motor clubs, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club’s members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing and buying programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club’s Web site at www.AAA.com.
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