HAMPTON, Ga. (Dec. 22, 2020) – Retired Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark has been named the 2020 recipient of the prestigious Buddy Shuman Award from NASCAR.
“I’m so humbled to receive this award,” said Clark. “Never in my wildest dreams growing up in southern Virginia did I think I’d be so honored to join such a prestigious group of racing legends as a winner of the Buddy Shuman Award.”
“I cannot think of anyone as deserving as Ed Clark to be receiving the Buddy Shuman Award for 2020,” said NASCAR President Mike Helton. “Everyone in our sport knows Ed and his solid character. This award will hopefully contribute to thanking him for his many contributions over nearly 50 years, and that have made this sport better for NASCAR, our competitors but most importantly, our fans”.
The award, now in its 64th year, recognizes individuals and organizations whose efforts and contributions helped advance the sport of stock-car racing. It is named for pioneering driver Louis Grier “Buddy ” Shuman, who perished in a hotel fire in 1955. The award’s namesake was one of NASCAR’s earliest stars, both a talented driver and pioneering technical inspector — and above all, a beloved member of the racing community.
Clark has left a similar mark on the sport over the course of a nearly four-decade career. He was named General Manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway in August of 1992 and was promoted to President in March of 1995 before retiring earlier this year. Prior to joining AMS, Clark spent 11 years with Charlotte Motor Speedway; first as the Public Relations Director beginning in 1981 before being promoted to Vice President of Events in 1987.
The Keysville, Va. native covered NASCAR Cup Series races for his local newspaper literally before he was old enough to enter the pits. Clark started with the Farmville Herald at 16-years old and later wrote for the Blacksburg Sun. Shortly before he graduated in 1977 from Virginia Tech, Clark accepted a job as the Public Relations Director at what was then known as Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. He moved across the state to Nashville Raceway to become that track’s general manager two years later.
About the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend:
Since 2015 the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 has been the main event in Atlanta Motor Speedway’s spring NASCAR weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The annual 500-mile race showcases some of the fastest and most thrilling action NASCAR has to offer. This storied race also brings awareness to Folds of Honor and its mission to help families of military servicemen and women who have fallen or been disabled while on active duty in the United States Armed Forces.
The race weekend also features Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, March 20, which has been part of the spring NASCAR weekend since 2015. The thrills of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 200-mile race and the EchoPark 250 Xfinity Series race all happen in one action-packed day that race fans look forward to every year.
More information on the March 20-21, 2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com or by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX.
About the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart:
New for 2021 the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart headlines the summer slate of NASCAR racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart will be the first NASCAR Cup Series race held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the month of July since 1974. The 400-mile race is sure to be one of the most challenging races of the summer as NASCAR’s best battle on one of the circuit’s most challenging tracks in pursuit of victory.
Accompanying the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart is the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday, July 10. The summer race will challenge the rising stars of the sport to stand out and succeed on one of the circuit’s most challenging tracks.
More information on the July 10-11, 2021 Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com or by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX.
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