Kerry Tharp, senior director, competition communications for NASCAR, and Mike Smith, public relations director for Martinsville (Va.) Speedway were among those honored Sunday evening during the National Motorsports Press Association’s annual convention and awards dinner.
Tharp, who joined NASCAR in 2005 as director for the sanctioning body’s licensing office before moving into the competition department role, was presented the Joe Littlejohn award for his service to the NMPA. Since his arrival, Tharp has been instrumental in continuing to develop the relationship between NASCAR and the NMPA.
The Joe Littlejohn Award is presented each year to a person or persons, or an organization, in recognition for or outstanding service to the NMPA. It is named after the former track owner from Spartanburg, S.C. Littlejohn is credited with two career NASCAR starts, but raced extensively before the formation of NASCAR.
Smith is the recipient of this year’s Ken Patterson Helping Others award. He has handled the public relations duties at the 0.526-mile track since 2000. The facility hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events each season.
The Ken Patterson award, named after the former director of public relations for Talladega Superspeedway, is determined by a vote of the NMPA membership. It recognizes a public relations representative in the motorsports industry (team, track, and sanctioning body) who has exhibited the kind, generous qualities that Patterson always demonstrated.
Talladega Superspeedway donates $1,000 in the winner’s name to the Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund each year.
Others awards presented by the organization included the Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award, which went to 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, and the NMPA Spirit Award, which was presented to the Petty family in honor of Lynda Petty.
Sunday’s event was held at the Embassy Suites in Concord, N.C.
NMPA PR
