LAKEPORT SPEEDWAY'S NADINE & BOB STRAUSS WIN 28TH ARPY
(Daytona Beach, FL. February 11, 2004)
After being voted the Western Region Auto Racing Promoters of the Year last month, Lakeport Speedway promoters Nadine and Bob Strauss of Lucerne traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida, to compete against seven other nominees for the overall national award. In the Top of the Surf Ballroom at the Daytona Beach Resort on February 11, Nadine and Bob Strauss were named the 28th Auto Racing Promoters of the Year. The couple received the industry's most prestigious award as first-time nominees. The ceremony was part of the 31st RPM Promoter's Workshops, a forum and trade show for over 600 promoters. The Auto Racing Promoter of the Year is selected annually in balloting by promoters nationwide.
Nadine and Bob were given a standing ovation when they were revealed as the ARPY winners.
Stewart Doty, chairman of the RPM Promoters Workshops and newsletter, presented Nadine with a large bouquet of flowers and gave Bob the traditional director's chair. They were then given the ARPY award plaque. Representatives from Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, spoke about the Speedway Club award and then announced that Nadine and Bob are now honorary life-time members of the Lowe's Motor Speedway Club. Along with this membership came Speedway Club his-and-hers engraved watches.
Honored as Regional Auto Racing Promoters of the Year were Don Hoenig, Thompson International Speedway in Thompson, Connecticut; Alan Kreitzer, Silver Spring Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; the Stone Family and Ted Austad, Oglethorpe Speedway in Pooler, Georgia, Earl Baltres, Eldora Speedway in New Winston, Ohio; Darrel Bassuener, Golder Sands Speedway in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; Craig Cormack, Eagle Raceway in Lincoln, Nebraska; Mooney Starr, Batesville Speedway in Batesville, Arkansas; and the Strausses from Lakeport Speedway, Lakeport, California.
Only Baltes and Kreitzer have been previously nominated. Baltres won the ARPY in 1993. The nominated tracks ranged from short, paved 1/4 mile (Lakeport Speedway) to a high-banked paved 5/8 mile track. Five tracks have dirt surfaces and three pavement.