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Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, was honored at a gala dinner on Thursday with the 10th annual International Motor Racing Research Center’s Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for outstanding contributions to motorsports.
Returning to the site of the inaugural award dinner held at the Corning Museum of Glass which recognized multi-race team owner Chip Ganassi in 2014, Brown was presented with an etched glass trophy by founding member and past president of the IMRRC, J.C. Argetsinger. Famed motorsports TV broadcaster Dr. Jerry Punch was the Master of Ceremonies. “Doc” Punch has become the voice of the IMRRC Cameron R. Argetsinger Award presentations, having been the M.C. for nine of the 10 years.
“It is such a wonderful thing that Zak has brought back the Formula 1 McLaren team to its preeminence in racing,” said Argetsinger, Cameron’s eldest son and a retired Schuyler (N.Y.) County judge. “For that alone, he is so well deserving of this award. There were other great constructors and owners [in the early days of F1], along with Bruce McLaren, John Cooper, Colin Chapman, Jack Brabham, all giants. And Zak is filling the same role today. He’s a businessman and leader. We are thrilled that Zak would take time out of his busy schedule to be with us tonight.”
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Zak Brown, left, with J.C. Argetsinger, holding the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award. (Chris Walters image)
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Video shout-outs were shown, sharing congratulatory, often humorous, messages from racing and entertainment industry celebrities, including David Hobbs, Al Unser Jr., Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, IMSA’s John Doonan, Emerson Fittipaldi, United Autosport’s Richard Dean, and musicians John Oates and Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band.
Also acknowledging Brown’s accomplishments, both as a businessman and a race-car driver, were INDYCAR Arrow McLaren’s Sam Schmidt, and INDYCAR and F1 McLaren Racing drivers Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel, Alexander Rossi, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
The 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner and former chairman of the IMRRC Governing Council, Bobby Rahal, conducted a spirited interview with Brown, also fielding questions from the audience.
“It is my honor and privilege to introduce all of you to my friend Zak Brown,” said Rahal. “The thing that first struck me about Zak is that he’s a racer. There is no doubt of that. That’s what drives the energy of his commitment, which is unbelievable. I don’t know how he does it. It’s really amazing to have witnessed what he’s done over the years.”
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Zak Brown was interviewed by 1986 Indy 500 winner and former Chairman of the IMRRC Governing Council Bobby Rahal. (Chris Walters image)
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Brown was touched by the kudos he received during the evening. “It’s unbelievable to be with all of you here to watch the videos with all those legends and to be hanging out with Bobby. I appreciate everyone showing up tonight and thank you so very much,” he said, adding, “It’s an honor and privilege and a surprise to win this very prestigious award. The legends that have won this award are some of my heroes growing up. I’m so happy to be able to work in this awesome sport of ours and with McLaren specifically.”
John Saunders, Chairman of the IMRRC Governing Council, spoke about the IMRRC’s mission to help preserve the important legacy of motorsports, while David Suess spoke on behalf of Diamond Sponsor The Esses. Sahlen’s, which has been a continuing supporter of the CRA Award dinners since the first year, was also a Diamond Sponsor.
“Presenting the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award serves the dual purpose of honoring an outstanding contributor to motorsports while also providing an enjoyable evening for guests and sponsors who appreciate the mission of the IMRRC,” said Mark Steigerwald, Executive Director of the IMRRC. “They in turn participate in one of the IMRRC’s most significant annual fundraising events. The dinner was a resounding success. Zak Brown’s generosity enhanced the live auction portion of the evening. Many of our event sponsors have been with us since the beginning, a further endorsement of our mission to preserve motorsport history.”
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M.C. Dr. Jerry Punch, second from right, proposes a champagne toast to CRA Award honoree Zak Brown, second from left, with J.C. Argetsinger (left) and Bobby Rahal. (Chris Walters image)
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A 60″x42″ acrylic painting created during the reception and gala by famed motorsports artist Bill Patterson was auctioned off at the end of the evening. It depicted the 1991 Monaco-winning McLaren F1 car driven by Ayrton Senna, with a current McLaren F1 car in the background. Also auctioned was a specially-commissioned Corning Museum of Glass-created glass sculpture of a McLaren racing car, plus a driving suit worn by Oscar Piastri during practice at Saudi Arabia in 2024 (donated by McLaren Racing). An on-line silent auction was also held. All proceeds will go to the IMRRC, a 501(c)(3) organization.
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Artist Bill Patterson created original artwork during the evening, as Dr. Jerry Punch was at the podium as the Master of Ceremonies. (Chris Walters image)
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Two vintage McLaren race cars were on display at the entry: A 1975 McLaren M23, owned by Greg Galdi, which was driven to the Argentinian GP win that year by Emerson Fittipaldi, and Rob Dyson’s 1974 McLaren M16C/D that David Hobbs, David “Salt” Walther and Jerry Karl raced.
Three “street” McLarens, driven by guests at the dinner, were also featured at the entry.
Established in 2014, the CRA Award had been presented to such legends of the sport as Chip Ganassi, Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Richard Petty, the France Family, Bobby Rahal, Lyn St. James, Mike Helton and Richard Childress. Lesa Kennedy and Ben Kennedy of the France family were present, along with Rahal, St. James and Childress.
The award memorializes Cameron R. Argetsinger, often referred to as the father of American road racing. He was a visionary who, in 1948, conceived, organized, and drove in the first post-war road race in America through the roads of Watkins Glen. He brought Formula 1 to WGI in 1961 and the circuit hosted the United States Grand Prix for 20 years. He was president of the IMRRC for five years, until his death in 2008.
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Sponsors and supporters of the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award dinner include Sahlen’s, The Esses, NASCAR/WGI/IMSA, SCCA Inc.; SCCA Foundation; Hilliard Corporation; Hendrick Motorsports; The Gorsline Company Inc.; Larry and Karen Kessler; Williams Toyota of Elmira; Richard Childress Racing; Team Penske; Global Prairie; Charles W. Grimm Construction Inc.; Glenora Wine Cellars; Greg Galdi; Welliver; and Women in Motorsports North America.
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