Beginning in 1972, the media covering the World 600 at Charlotte voted a driver to receive the Curtis Turner Memorial Achievement Award. I'm unclear what a driver had to do to earn votes from the press to receive the award. The only "prize" mentioned is $250 awarded to Wendell Scott in year 1.
Based on a couple of the articles I found, the award seems to have been tied to greatest improvement in the race. If so, I don't know whether that measurement was based on starting position or obstacles overcome in the race.
Here are the winners I've found so far.
1972 - Wendell Scott
1973 - Jim Vandiver
1974 - Darrell Waltrip
1975 - Richard Petty - The King seems to be the only driver who received the award with a GN/Cup win already on his rsum.
1976 - Janet Guthrie
1977 - Lennie Pond - a change in the rule to only ensure non-winning drivers were eligible for the award?
1978 - Sterling Marlin - found in this 1979 article, but Sterling's 9th place finish in the 600 was in 1978.
From there, the trail goes cold. I'm not sure if the award program was ended following 1978, morphed into a sponsor-named award, or simply not deemed news worthy by those writing about the 600.
Is it possible the one-race Turner award for ACHIEVEMENT morphed into the every-race Goody's Headache Award for the TOUGHEST break? That award was $250 per race and voted on by "the media" for ages - and later just MRN and PRN personnel I think. I don't know that the two are related - just some speculation on my part.
Anyone have any info about the award, a picture of the trophy or plaque the drivers received in addition to the $250 cash prize, etc.?
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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
