BURBANK, Calif. - Voting has begun among almost 300 members of the
motorsports press to select the 2004 Auto Racing All-America team.
Among those on the ballot are former Jerry Titus Award winners John
Force (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1998, 2001), and Tommy
Kendall (1997) -- that is every one from 1995 to 2002 -- as well as the
driver who has been All-American more than any other, Steve Kinser, who
seeks his 22nd All-America selection. Also on the ballot seeking selection
in one of seven categories -- Open Wheel, Stock Car, Road Racing, Drag
Racing, Short Track, Touring Series and At Large -- are 16 drivers who
could be making their first-ever All-American appearance.
Members of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters
Association, will vote from among six drivers named in each category. This
year a change in the voting method puts 44 drivers on the ballot instead of
42 -- in road racing co-drivers who were teammates with virtually identical
records are voted as one.
Two from each category will be named to the first team, to be honored at
the annual AARWBA banquet Jan. 15 in Pomona, Calif. The winner of the Jerry
Titus Award will also be announced at the banquet. The Titus Award honors
the team's top driver - the one earning the most votes in the balloting
regardless of category.
The balloting will also determine a second team of the drivers placing
third and fourth in each category, and honorable mentions to all other
drivers receiving at least 5 percent of the vote. AARWBA members have
annually chosen an All-America Auto Racing Team since 1970.
The banquet, which also kicks off AARWBA's 50th anniversary, is open to
the public. Ticket information is available from AARWBA, 922 N. Pass Ave.,
Burbank, Calif. 91505, or call (818) 842-7005.
The drivers listed below are on the 2003 All-America ballot. Numbers in
parentheses indicate previous times elected to first team/second
team/honorable mention; *** indicates first time on ballot.
OPEN WHEEL RACING
Sebastien Bourdais (0/0/1) ChampCar champion, seven victories
Bruno Junqueira (***) Second in ChampCar, two victories
Tony Kanaan (***) IRL IndyCar champion, three victories
Buddy Rice (1/0/0) Indianapolis 500 pole and winner, Third in IndyCars, two other victories
Paul Tracy (3/1/3) Fourth in ChampCar, two victories
Dan Wheldon (0/1/0) Second in IndyCar, three victories
STOCK CAR
Kurt Busch (0/1/0) Nextel Cup champion, three victories
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2/1/1) Fifth in Nextel Cup, six victories include Daytona 500,
two Busch series victories
Jeff Gordon (8/1/1) Third in Nextel Cup, just 16 points behind,
five victories including a fourth Brickyard 400
Jimmie Johnson (0/1/1) Second in Nextel Cup jut 8 points behind, eight victories
Kasey Kahne (0/1/0 Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year, two Craftsman Truck victories
Mark Martin (4/4/4) Fourth in Nextel Cup, one victory
ROAD RACING
Ron Fellows (2/2/2) American LeMans GTS champion, five victories
Paul Gentilozzi (3/1/0) SCCA Trans-Am Champion, five victories
Ian James (***) American LeMans Series P2 champion, three victories;
one Sport Touring victory in Grand-Am Cup
Tommy Kendall (6/3/0) SCCA Trans-Am runner-up, two victories, tied Gentilozzi on points.
JJ Lehto (***) American Le Mans P1 co-champion, six victories
Marco Werner (0/0/1) American Le Mans P1 co-champion, six victories
Max Papis (***) Grand-Am Daytona Prototype co-champion, four victories
Scott Pruett (5/1/1) Grand-Am Daytona Prototype co-champion, four victories
DRAG RACING
Greg Anderson (0/1/0) NHRA Pro Stock champion, 15 wins in 19 finals
(both all-time NHRA records)
John Force (11/1/0) NHRA Funny Car Champion, five victories, his 13th championship
Jason Line (***) Second in NHRA Pro Stock, four victories, rookie of the year
Clay Millican (0/1/1) IHRA Top Fuel champ (fourth straight), seven victories
Gary Scelzi (3/1/0) Third in NHRA Funny Cars, three victories
Tony Schumacher (1/0/0) NHRA Top Fuel champion, 10 victories (Top Fuel record)
SHORT TRACK
Jay Drake (0/0/1) USAC Sprint Car Champion, four victories;
also three Silver Crown victories
Bobby East (***) USAC Midget Champion, seven victories; also won in Sprints (5),
Silver Crown (1), three other USAC series
Chad Kemenah (0/0/1) All-Star Sprints champion, six victories
Steve Kinser (16/1/4) World of Outlaws champion, 17 feature wins, 19th championship
Danny Lasoski (1/0/0) Second in World of Outlaws, nine victories
Dave Steele (***) USAC Silver Crown champion, two victories;
also won in USAC Sprints (2) and Midgets (3), plus TBARA (3)
TOURING SERIES
Kyle Busch (***) Second in NASCAR Busch Series, five victories, rookie of the year
Benny Gordon (***) Leader in USAR Hooters Cup, 2 victories;
USAR Northern champion, four victories
Bobby Hamilton (***) NASCAR Craftsman Truck champion, four victories
Frank Kimmel (1/0/4) Won sixth ARCA championship, six victories
Andy Santerre (0/1/0) NASCAR Busch North champion, five victories
Martin Truex Jr (***) NASCAR Busch Series champion, six victories
AT LARGE
Bill Auberlen (0/2/0) Grand-Am GT champion, eight victories;
SCCA World Challenge Touring Car champion, three victories
Jon Fogarty (***) Formula Atlantic Champion, six victories
Rob MacCachren (1/0/0) SNORE champion, five victories; won four in BitD,
four in SCORE including Baja 1000
Thiago Medeiros (***) IRL Infiniti Pro Series champion, six victories
Patrick Richard (***) SCCA Pro Rally champion, three outright victories in a Group N car
(not the top class).
Scott Speed (***) won two European Formula Renault championships,
four German Series victories, eight Eurocup victories
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