Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame - Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame announces Gordie Shuck Sportsman Award

Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame announces Gordie Shuck Sportsman Award

by Darin Racek
OVERTON, Neb. (November 12, 2001) -- The Board of Directors announce the inception of the Gordie Shuck Sportsman award. The first award will be presented at the Fifth Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony tentatively be held in late August.

The award has a two-fold purpose: as a continuous memorial to Shuck, who died earlier this year, and each year to recognize a person associated with auto racing in Nebraska (driver, car owner, sponsor, promoter, official or fan) who has demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship during the prior year.

Gordie Shuck, a native of Edgar, began racing in 1948, and had earned his first two Nebraska Hot Rod Racing Association championships in 1949 and 1950. He moved to Sprint Cars in 1951, driving for the Grand Island-Hastings car of Chuck Byrnes and Jim Gessford. In 1953, he earned not only the UMCA points championship, but was also voted “Sportsman of the Year” -- an award he considered to be his greatest accomplishment in racing. He retired from racing in 1958, capping his many victories and championships with the Sunset Speedway season championship. He was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1999.

The Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame Board of Directors are seeking nominations for the 2002 Gordie Shuck Memorial Sportsmanship Award. Each track promoter in Nebraska will be asked to nominate the one person whom they feel has demonstrated such sportsmanship.

The general public is welcome to submit their nominations as well, and all nominations are due to the Hall of Fame by June 1, 2002. Nominations may be sent to the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame, 821 Driftwood Dr., Lincoln, NE 68510.