SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Bob Bahre, the man credited with bringing major-league auto racing to New England, received the 2008 NASCAR Buddy Shuman Award during NASCAR’s annual awards ceremonies in New York City.
Presented annually by Federal-Mogul’s Champion Spark Plug brand, the Shuman Award honors individuals who have played vital roles in ensuring the continued growth and popularity of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing.
A longtime racing promoter and track owner, Bahre helped bring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing to New England with his purchase and reconstruction of what is now the region’s largest sports facility, New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N. H. The massive racing complex – which features a one-mile oval track and 1.6-mile road course – opened in 1990 and has hosted annual Cup Series events since 1993. Barhe and his son, Gary, sold the facility in 2007.
Bahre also owned and operated Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway, which became one of the most lucrative short-track venues for weekly stock car series racers. Perhaps more than any other professional achievement, it has been Bahre’s unyielding support and generosity for grassroots racers – who compete more out of a pure passion for the sport rather than monetary reward – that made him the unanimous choice for the Shuman Award.
“Bob has done more to benefit NASCAR and grassroots stock car racing than almost anyone else ever associated with the sport,” said Jay Burkhart, senior vice president, Global Aftermarket, Federal-Mogul. “It is this incredible generosity of spirit that helped make his events and tracks the favorites among racers and teams throughout New England. It was also Bob’s vision and determination that brought Cup Series racing to the Northeast with one of the finest facilities anywhere in the world.”
One of the most enduring and prestigious awards in all of motorsports, the Buddy Shuman Award was established in memory of Louis Grier “Buddy” Shuman, a pioneer NASCAR Grand National driver who was well respected by his peers. Shuman was killed in a hotel fire in 1955. NASCAR established the Buddy Shuman Award in 1957. Champion, the “Performance Driven” brand of spark plugs, has sponsored the annual award since its inception.
