Neil Verhagen Presented with 2016 RRDC Mark Donohue Award in Daytona
January 27, 2017 by RRDCDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 27, 2017) - Neil Verhagen, a 15-year-old high-school student from Mooresville, N.C., was presented the RRDC Mark Donohue Award at the annual RRDC members' dinner at Daytona International Speedway on Jan. 25. The dinner preceded the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, this weekend's season opener of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Verhagen, who had been previously announced as the award winner, earned the honor for his dominating performance at the SCCA National Runoffs in 2016 to win the competitive Formula F class. He accepted the unique trophy from RRDC members Don Knowles, Dorsey Schroeder and David Donohue, Mark's son. The trophy, an engraved glass top mounted on a special, racing-experienced wheel, was provided by RRDC member Roger Penske and Team Penske. It came from the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford driven by Joey Logano at the Nov. 13, 2016, Phoenix NASCAR race, where he shredded the tire performing a victory burnout. That race represented a key victory in the Chase as it allowed the team to advance to the championship at Homestead the next week. 'Neil Verhagen is a superstar,' said Schroeder, of the young driver who was also named to the Red Bull Junior team this month. 'He is a record setter and in doing so he is a record breaker. Quite an interesting young man at a very young age. He's raced one third of his entire existence on this planet. 'He topped the sheets throughout the Runoffs weekend, and had a pretty good feel for the car. He's a thinking driver.' 'I'd like to start off by saying thank you to everybody that has helped me get here,' said Verhagen. 'It's been absolutely amazing. I want to thank the RRDC for this amazing event, and I also have to thank my parents (Lynne and Ken) and my grandparents for always being there and supporting me through my entire career.' Verhagen's younger brother Alex, who also races, was also in attendance. 'We don't have a racing background,' he continued, 'so it's not the easiest because we're all learning at the same time and it's been quite hard at some points. 'A big thanks goes out to Jeremy Shaw and the Team USA Scholarship program,' he added. 'He has taught me everything. Not just on the track but off the track, looking at all different aspects, especially the business side and how to carry myself off the track. I was nominated for the Scholarship but unfortunately I was not old enough to participate in England, so it was a little disappointing.
Trending News• Carlisle Auctions Concludes First Auction of 2024 – Sells More than 50% of Consignments
• RM Sotheby's Announces Further Incredible Competiton And Rally Greats Coming To Monaco On 10 And 11 May
• BONHAMS|CARS SPRING STAFFORD MOTORCYCLE SALE ACHIEVES £3 MILLION WITH AN INDUSTRY-LEADING 95% SELL THROUGH RATE
• VinFast officially signs agreements with 12 new dealers in the US
• Niki Lauda's Nürburgring Helmet – A Symbol Of Sporting Bravery And Determination – Comes To Bonhams|Cars Miami Auction
'Watching the SafeisFast videos I learned not only the driving aspects but off-track aspects such as the business side of how to acquire sponsors to get myself where I am. 'A big thanks also goes out to Roger Penske and Team Penske for providing the wheel for the trophy this year.' Added RRDC president Bobby Rahal, 'Congratulations, Neil. You've joined a great list of champions.' The full press release announcing Verhagen's selection to receive the award may be found at http://www.rrdc.org/2017/01/18/neil-verhagen-15-earns-rrdc-mark-donohue-award-at-scca-national-runoffs/ About the RRDC: The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names. In 2011, the RRDC launched a free on-line training seminar – SAFEisFAST.com – featuring more than 30 RRDC members and other industry experts in high-quality videos covering subjects from physical and mental preparation to driving techniques, driver safety to car setup and sponsorship. The videos are updated regularly. Each week, a professional from the world of motor racing answers readers' questions on the site in a feature called 'Ask a Pro.' Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary. The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990. The RRDC also honors icons of the sport at its annual dinner at the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix. Honorees have been Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser and George Follmer. Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only. For more information, visit www.rrdc.org.
