NHRA

Winston Championship awards ceremony

Report from Motorsport News International Oct. 30, 1996 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NHRA Communications ELEVEN CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT NHRA WINSTON AWARDS CEREMONY CERRITOS, Calif. -- A recap of the awards given at the NHRA Winston Drag ...

Edited: May 8, 2001, 12:19 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Report from Motorsport News International

Oct. 30, 1996

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NHRA Communications

ELEVEN CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT NHRA WINSTON AWARDS CEREMONY

CERRITOS, Calif. -- A recap of the awards given at the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Awards Ceremony Oct. 28 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in Cerritos, Calif.:

NHRA WINSTON CHAMPIONS Top Fuel: Kenny Bernstein Funny Car: John Force Pro Stock: Jim Yates Pro Stock Motorcycle: Dave Schultz Top Alcohol Dragster: Bobby Taylor Top Alcohol Funny Car: Tony Bartone Competition: Bo Nickens Super Stock: Peter Biondo Stock: Scotty Richardson Super Comp: Matt Driskell Super Gas: John Vineyard

DON PRUDHOMME AWARD: Leslie Lovett Lovett was the most respected photographer in drag racing during his 28-year career as photo editor of NHRA's publication, National Dragster. He made a significant contribution to the growth and positive image of drag racing through his photos. He died in July at age 53.

BLAINE JOHNSON AWARD: Alan Johnson Johnson, a crew chief and cylinder-head builder, won this new, annual award for showing the perseverance and dedication to NHRA Winston Drag Racing displayed by his younger brother Blaine Johnson, who suffered fatal injuries during a qualifying crash in August 1996 at the U.S. Nationals.

GOOD HAND AWARD: The Johnson family This racing family showed tremendous strength and concern about the emotional state of fellow racers after Blaine Johnson's death at the U.S. Nationals.

NHRA WINSTON ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Mike Edwards and Matt Hines Pro Stock driver Edwards and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hines became the first competitors to share this award. Edwards won three races and Hines two in 1996. They finished third in the NHRA Winston point standings in their respective categories. Edwards and Hines each earned $10,000.

SLICK 50 PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Mike Edwards Pro Stock driver Edwards earned this award by using a superior reaction time to beat quicker opponents seven times this season, more than any other professional competitor. He earned a $17,000 bonus from Slick 50.

AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SO. CALIF. ROAD TO THE FUTURE AWARD: Tony Pedregon Funny Car driver Pedregon earned this new, annual award as the pro competitor destined for greatness in NHRA Winston Drag Racing.

NHRA MANUFACTURERS CUP: Pontiac Pontiac won this award for the first time. Pontiac drivers earned more qualifying points and category victories in Pro Stock, Super Stock and Stock than drivers in any other make of car.

NHRA MEDIA AWARD: Pam Clark, Ed Arnold, Ed Dykes Clark is the motorsports writer for the Topeka Capital-Journal, Arnold is the sports anchor at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, and Dykes is the lead drag racing reporter for Racing Information System on Compuserve.

-30-

Jack Durbin indy500@freenet.tlh.fl.us Motorsport News International jackd@motorsport.com (Moderators for "rec.autos.sport.info") Homepage http://www.freenet.tlh.fl.us/users/indy500/index.html

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article IF3: Standings after Mugello

Next article IRL: Johnny Unser to enter charity race

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

42 min

Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are

Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

4 h

Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale

Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

5 h

Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale

Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

5 h

Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts