Jimmie Johnson earns driver of the year honours from the EMPA

LANGHORNE, PA December 22, 2009 . . . The awards keep coming for NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson as the Eastern Motorsport Press Association has voted him the Al Holbert Memorial National Driver of the Year.

EMPA is made up of members who are journalists, photographers and broadcasters that cover motorsports on a regular basis.  Johnson will have his award presented at the annual EMPA Convention being presented at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Trevose, PA, January 15 thru 17th. The presentation will take place during the NASCAR/EMPA Hall of Fame Dinner.

Joining Johnson as recipients of special awards from the EMPA will be Richie Evans Memorial Northeast Driver of the Year Ted Christopher; T. Wayne Robertson Memorial Newsmaker Award winner Wall Stadium promoter Jim Morton; Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport Award winner NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competitor Wade Cole; along with John Blewett III Young Guns Presented by New England Racing Fuels Award winner Ryan Truex.

Four new members will be inducted in the Eastern Motorsport Press Association Hall of Fame. One of the true legends in dirt modified racing, Freddy Adam tops the list of inductees along with sprint car legend Steve Smith, Western Pennsylvania sprint car and super modified legend Lou Blaney and one of the founding partners of the weekly trade newspaper Gater Racing News Norm Patrick.

Long time Pocono Raceway public relations person Bob Pleban will be honored with the Art McHugh Memorial in recognition of his many years of support of the EMPA. Several other special awards will be presented along with journalists and photographers receiving awards for their outstanding efforts during 2009.

During press conference sessions set for Saturday, January 16th, presentations will be made by the National Hot Rod Association featuring Top Fuel star Antron Brown along with presentations by the World Racing Group, Andy Belmont’s ModSpace ARCA Series team, IndyRacing League, Pocono Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s Jerry Gappens, Dover International Speedway, Bethel Motor Speedway, Sundance Vacations Speedway and others.

Sponsor support for the 42nd annual convention comes from a variety of sources including the NHRA, NASCAR, SPEED, NHRA, World Racing Group, Andy Belmont Motorsports, IndyRacing League, Pocono Raceway and Brice NAPA Auto Parts.

The convention will also be the final under the leadership of Ernie Saxton who is one of the founders and has served as president for most of the years since 1969 when the organization got its start. He has notified the organization that he will not be running for any office in 2010.

Additional information can be had by telephone 215.752.7797 or you may e-mail Ernie Saxton atEsaxton144@aol.com.