Prudhomme nominated for Shav Glick Award

Four-time Funny Car champion and drag racing legend Don "the Snake" Prudhomme has been nominated for the fifth annual Eagle One-Shav Glick Award. The award, presented each year by the car-care products company, recognizes distinguished achievement in motor racing by a Californian. Joe Leonard, Chris Pook, Les Richter and Roger Ward join Prudhomme on this year's ballot.

Previous winners of the prestigious title were Dan Gurney, Wally Parks, Parnelli Jones, and Rick Mears.

The award, named in honor of the long-time motor sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times, will be presented in the winner's circle at California Speedway prior to the NASCAR Auto Club 500 on May 2, 2004.

After 32 seasons behind the wheel, straight-line racing pioneer Prudhomme is coming off his ninth year as a team owner and is enjoying the second consecutive Top Fuel championship of one of his drivers, Larry Dixon Jr. Aside from Dixon's Miller Lite dragster, Prudhomme also fields the Skoal Racing Funny Car entrees of Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr.

As a driver, Prudhomme won 49 races, 35 in Funny Car and 14 in Top Fuel. Of those victories, seven came at the sport's biggest race, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Among his numerous achievements, Prudhomme was the first Funny Car driver to break the 250-mph barrier and the first to clock a run quicker than 5.2 seconds.

Leonard is the only driver to win AMA Grand National Motorcycle and U.S. Auto Club championships. He drove in nine Indy 500s, finishing third in 1967 and 1972 and won the 1971 California 500 at Ontario Speedway. Pook founded the Long Beach Grand Prix and is now President of CART. Richter was president and overseer of Riverside International Raceway for 23 years and a leading force in the building of California Speedway. Ward won the l959 and 1962 Indy 500 and during a six-year stretch at the Indy 500 he racked up two firsts, two seconds, a third and a fourth, the best in history.

Judges are Mike Harris, Associated Press; Bill Center, San Diego Union; Jim Short, Riverside Press-Enterprise; Doug Stokes, Irwindale Speedway; John Zimmerman, motor sports journalist; and last year's winner, Rick Mears. Eagle One is a division of The Valvoline Company.