Eddie Roche, International Speedway Corporation’s images and archives manager since 2003, will be honored with The National Russ Moyer Media Award, representing excellence in journalism. The award will be presented by Ray Fox’s Living Legends of Auto Racing Organization on Feb. 20 during the Living Legends of Auto Racing Organization’s annual banquet at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach Shores, Fla.
Russ Moyer, NASCAR Vice President in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, exhibited talent and commitment to the media and motorsports throughout his career. Prior to Moyer’s years as executive, he handled publicity for the inaugural stock car race on the Daytona Beach road course in 1936, worked as a sports writer for the Norristown (Pa.) Times-Herald, and was the sports editor for the East Stroudsburg (Pa.) Morning Sun.
Inspired by Russ Moyer’s demeanor and legendary auto racing efforts, the Living Legends of Auto Racing Organization formed The National Russ Moyer Media Award. The 600-member non-profit, Living Legends of Auto Racing Organization strongly supports and honors beach and stock racing legends.
Donnie Allison, International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee who competed in NASCAR during the 1960s-1980s, will present the award on behalf of the Living Legends of Auto Racing Organization.
All previous Russ Moyer Media Award honorees demonstrate exquisite aptitude and dedication to journalism and motorsports.
Past acknowledgements include Jim Foster (retired Vice President of Communications for ISC; Assistant to the President, Bill France Sr.; Director NASCAR News Bureau; sports writer; Dodge racing rep), Larry McReynolds (former NASCAR crew chief, now TV race analyst for FOX Sports & Turner Sports), Jeff Hammond (former NASCAR crew chief, now FOX & SPEED-TV commentator), and Jim Hunter (NASCAR VP of Corporate Communications, book author, and sports writer for Atlanta Journal-Constitution, PR Director at Darlington Raceway).
“I’m finding it hard to believe that I’m on the same list with the other names,” Roche said. “I’ve always thought of those that are on the list as being sort of mentors to the work that I did. Above all, I think what makes it so special are the friends and colleagues reaching out to contact me about coming (to the ceremony).”
Eddie Roche has been involved in the motorsports journalism world for more than 40 years. He was the Field Editor South for Stock Car Racing Magazine in the 1970s, Motor Sports Editor for the Scripps-Howard daily newspaper The Hollywood (FL) Sun, the author of Florida Motorsports Retrospective Pictorial Books Vol I & II, has been a freelance journalist for Goodyear, NASCAR Newsletter, Daytona 500 programs, and a consultant on numerous books such as: History of the American Speedway (Allan Brown), NASCAR Families (Herb Branham), and Sebring: The Official History (Ken Breslauer).
“I think the best part for me is that when I was in college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do or to be,” Roche said, “I knew that racing was my love in life, so I took up mass communications and turned it into a career based on my love for racing.”
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will kick off their 2013 season during Budweiser Speedweeks At Daytona with the Sprint Unlimited on Saturday, Feb. 16, under the lights at Daytona International Speedway.
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