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. Motorsports TV broadcaster Dr. Jerry Punch was the Master of Ceremonies. Punch has become the voice of the IMRRC 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.”
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 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.”
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.”
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.
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, Salt Walther and Jerry Karl raced. Three road-goingMcLarens, 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 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.
The auction ends on the evening of September 12th at 6:30PM, coinciding with the IMRRC Cameron R. Argetsinger Award gala honoring Zak Brown, where items will be on display. The winning bidder need not be present to win however tickets to the event are still available here: CRA Award Gala honoring Zak Brown. Examples of Items up for bid include: Ayrton Senna by Gary Dausch, Can-Am Reunion Poster by Michael Turner, Michael Andretti Helmet and many others! New items will be added weekly so check back often.
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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 17, 2024) Sahlen Packing Co. Inc., a family-owned producer of quality meat products since 1869 in Buffalo, New York, is the primary presenting sponsor of the International Motor Racing Research Center’s 10th Annual Cameron R. Argetsinger Award dinner honoring McLaren Racing’s Zak Brown. The gala returns on September 12, 2024, to the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, where the initial awards were presented from 2014 until 2019.
NASCAR, Watkins Glen International and IMSA are co-presenters for the evening, which precedes the Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR race weekend at WGI on September 13-15.
“We at Sahlen’s are proud to support the IMRRC dinner honoring McLaren Racing’s Zak Brown. Zak’s accomplishments on the marketing side of the sport in the U.S. are well documented. And, now, since he’s been named the CEO of McLaren Racing, the Formula 1 team has seen a major resurgence to the top of the field,” said Joe Sahlen, company president. “We’re honored to be part of this gala event.”
Sahlen’s has been a supporter of the Argetsinger Award dinner since 2016, when Roger Penske was recognized. Sahlen’s has been the corporate sponsor since 2003 of the annual Six Hours of Watkins Glen IMSA race.
“As a longtime sponsor, competitor and race fan from Western New York, The Glen has been my ‘home’ track for nearly five decades,” added Sahlen, who, as a driver, has raced in four different classes of IMSA competition. “To have an entity such as the IMRRC in Watkins Glen is a tremendous resource for people to appreciate the history of motorsports.”
The IMRRC, a research and archival library focused on the history of all types of racing and all race tracks worldwide, is presenting Brown with its annual Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for Outstanding Contributions to Motorsports.
A full Zak Brown bio may be found HERE.
The award memorializes Cameron R. Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races at Watkins Glen more than 70 years ago. It was established to honor a person who is recognized universally for having advanced and improved the sport, who brings prestige to motorsports and who demonstrates commitment to the future of racing.
Previous recipients have included Chip Ganassi, Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Richard Petty, the France Family, Bobby Rahal, Lyn St. James, Mike Helton and Richard Childress.
The courtyard at the Corning Museum of Glass. (Image courtesy of Corning Museum of Glass.)
The dinner serves as a key fundraiser for the Racing Research Center. The IMRRC, which opened in 1999, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Tickets to the gala may be purchased at THE IMRRC STORE. It is recommended to register early, as the event is expected to sell out quickly.
About Sahlen’s
Sahlen Packing Co., Inc. is a five-generation, family-owned business. It was founded in Buffalo, New York, in 1869, where it is headquartered today in a 110,000 square-foot food manufacturing facility. It employs over 100 dedicated employees, who help Sahlen’s deliver more than 15 million pounds of meat all across the country every year. https://sahlen.com/
About the IMRRC
The International Motor Racing Research Center collects, shares and preserves the history of motorsports. Spanning continents, eras and race series, the Center’s extensive historical collection embodies the speed, drama and camaraderie of amateur and professional motor racing throughout the world. The Center welcomes serious researchers and casual fans alike to share the stories captured on its shelves and walls, and brought to life through a regular calendar of public lectures and special events. www.racingarchives.org
About McLaren Racing
McLaren Racing was founded by racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966. McLaren has since won 20 Formula 1 world championships, 184 Formula 1 grands prix, the Indianapolis 500 three times, and the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt.
McLaren Racing competes across six racing series. The team competes in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with McLaren F1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with NEOM McLaren Formula E Team drivers Jake Hughes and Sam Bird, the Extreme E Championship with NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team drivers Cristina Gutiérrez and Mattias Ekström, and F1 Academy with ART Grand Prix and Driver Development program member Bianca Bustamante. The team also competes in the F1 Sim Racing Championship as McLaren Shadow, having won the 2022 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.
McLaren is a champion for sustainability in the sport and a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Commitment. It is committed to achieving net zero by 2040 and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture in the motorsport industry.
McLaren Racing – Official Website
Executive Director