To help commemorate its 50th anniversary, the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Assn. is determining the "Newsmaker of the Half-Century," the most significant person or people in the sport of automobile racing in the last 50 years.
A starting list of 50 nominees was winnowed to 12 by the association's board, but the winner will be selected by a vote of its membership. The winner will be announced just before the Indianapolis 500 on May 29.
As might be expected, the final 12 is a mixed bag of drivers, executives, car owners and promoters. The nominees:
Mario Andretti: A champion in the U.S. with the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500 and four Indy car championships and 52 race victories, and in the world with the 1978 Formula One championship.
Kenny Bernstein: Six-time National Hot Rod Assn. drag racing champion, four in funny cars and two in top fuel. First drag racer to exceed 300 mph. Somewhat of a surprise on the ballot, considering that Don Garlits, named No. 1 among all NHRA drivers, was left off.
Dale Earnhardt: Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion whose death at the Daytona 500 in 2001 showed how far his sport had grown and what he meant to it as the tragedy made headlines the world over.
John Force: Drag racing's dominant force today, winner of 13 NHRA funny car championships with 114 wins in 180 final-round appearances a quarter-mile at a time. Motor racing's most popular ambassador.
A.J. Foyt: Super Tex was a winner everywhere he raced, on dirt or pavement, on ovals and road courses. First four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, also won Daytona 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
France family: Big Bill France had the idea to organize stock car racing into a national entity known as NASCAR. After nurturing it from its formative years, he turned it over to son Bill Jr., who grew it into the world's most successful racing organization. Two years ago, grandson Brian took the reins and has it soaring to even greater heights.
Jeff Gordon: NASCAR's hottest driver in today's high-profile picture. Winner of four Cup championships, three Daytona 500s and the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. Won his 70th Cup race Sunday at Daytona.
Dan Gurney: Never a champion but considered America's greatest international road racer. Won the Belgian Grand Prix in his All-American Racers Eagle in 1967, NASCAR races at Riverside and Le Mans with Foyt.
