Scott Pruett, 55, received the 2016 Phil Hill Award from Road Racing Drivers Club president Bobby Rahal last night in Daytona before competing the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener. Pruett has a record 60 victories in IMSA competition.
“Pruett was hurt pretty badly in a testing accident in West Palm Beach in 1990, where he broke his legs, back, feet, you name it,” said Rahal.
“Obviously that didn’t stop him and his drive and determination took him to winning many championships. This weekend he has the chance to be the first six-time overall winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” in Rahal’s view.
Pruett, a native Californian who’s competed in CART, SCCA Trans-Am, IMSA GTO, IROC and NASCAR, is seeking his sixth overall victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona this weekend, driving a Daytona Prototype for Action Express Racing, Lexus RC F GT3. In 2015 he earned his record-setting 60th win in IMSA, and is the 2004, ’08, ’10 and ’12 Rolex Grand American Champion.
A record seven-time winner in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and a three-time SCCA Trans-Am champion (1987, ’94 and ’03), Pruett was also the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans LMGTS Class winner, and has two IMSA GTO Championships, an IMSA GT Endurance title, and 10 pro karting titles.
The Phil Hill Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the person who the RRDC feels has rendered outstanding service to road racing. The recipient may be a driver, entrant or outstanding member of a sanctioning body. It is named in honor of America’s first Formula 1 World Champion (in 1961), and his contributions as a great ambassador for the sport. Hill passed away in 2008.
The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety. It has since evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels.
Judy Stropus, former professional timer/scorer, race-car driver, and award-winning publicist, received the 2015 Bob Akin Award from the Road Racing Drivers Club at a dinner on Jan. 27 prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
“Most of you don’t know this,” said Stropus, “but I came here to the United States in 1949, not speaking the language. And, in my first 20 years here, I learned the language, learned to drive on a Jaguar XK120, joined a sports car club, became the editor of the newsletter, learned how to time, was in demand by top teams in the world, and started racing cars. I guess you’d say I was living the American dream.”
Considered the top award in motorsports for amateur, vintage/historic or semi-professional drivers, the recipient is selected by Akin’s son Bobby, RRDC members Brian Redman and Archie Urciuoli, and approved by RRDC president Bobby Rahal.
The Steuben Glass trophy was commissioned by RRDC in 2003 to honor the memory of longtime RRDC member and past president Bob Akin, who lost his life in a racing accident in 2002.