The Road Racing Drivers Club has chosen Monterey Historics founder Steve Earle as the recipient of its Bob Akin Award, and named former SCCA President and current FIA Senate President Nick Craw to receive the Phil Hill Award. These awards are presented at the club’s annual dinner prior to the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with the Akin trophy honoring the person who best exemplifies the passion and sportsmanship that Akin brought to the sport he loved, and the Hill award recognizing outstanding service rendered by the winner to the sport of road racing.
In accepting the Akin Award Earle (center, above) recalled racing with his friend Bob Akin in IMSA and at Le Mans: “It was really something. We had fun the whole time. Bob was a very, very special guy for me and to be able to come here and receive this award in his name is a huge honor. I wish more than anything it didn’t exist, but it does and I’m so proud to receive it and I thank you all so much.”
Craw was equally gracious in accepting the award that honors America’s first World Champion, Phil Hill. “I’m honored and humbled and grateful. I got started in this business to go racing; I just wanted to beat people. One thing and another evolved, and long after my racing career was over I was either fortunate or unfortunate enough to be drawn back into the sport and the result has been extremely rewarding and gratifying. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to give something back to the sport that’s given me so much.”
