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Wanser, Thompson named Robin Miller Award winners
Chip Ganassi Racing team manager Barry Wanser (pictured above) and broadcast statistician Russ Thompson are this year’s joint recipients of the Robin Miller Award.
The award honors “an unheralded individual who's devoted a significant portion of their life to IndyCar racing while bringing unbridled passion and unrelenting work ethic to enrich the sport.” Created at the suggestion of Marshall Pruett, the award is named in honor of the iconic IndyCar writer and RACER contributor Robin Miller, who died in 2021.
The first recipient was Miller himself (2019), followed by Bob Jenkins (2021), Judy Dominick and the late T.E. McHale (2022), Ziggy Harkus (2023) and Anne Fornoro (2024).
“Let me just start by saying I love this day because we get the chance to think about Robin,” said IndyCar Series and Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles. “Wherever he is now – up or down, who knows. I think about him a lot every time I go to Workingman's Friend, or go to the diner on Main St at Charlie Brown's. I can't not think about Robin.
“And then there's all the times when issues come up, and I imagine what he would have said. So this is guaranteed to be the time when we can talk about him a bit through the awarding of these awards.”
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Wanser in particular was blindsided by the award.
“This is a true honor,” said Wanser. “A surprise. Robin was a close friend of mine. I'm honored to represent him in this award, and certainly the team. I prefer being a behind the scenes guy and not thrust into the spotlight, but being here today, being honored, being completely surprised… thank you.”
Also on hand was Miller’s sister Diane.
“On behalf of myself and my family, this award just means everything to us, to think that all of you honor (Robin) once a year, these incredible people that are part of this fabulous race and this fabulous race track.
“And this is Robin's home. I mean, he might be sprinkled here a little bit, but he's always here in spirit, and I know this week he's really been here in spirit. I can't think of two more deserving individuals to get this award.
“I think back, like with Russ. I mean, you have a lot in common, with media and things like that, with Robin. And with Barry, you would have never hired Robin. He pestered Jimmy Hurtubise until he finally hired him as a gopher. I think he lasted two weeks. When he scraped the paint off the fresh paint job with a screwdriver, he was fired.
“So then he started pestering people, lying about his age and jumping over the pit wall and writing articles and trying to submit them at the Star when he was at Star Sports, answering the phone and giving out sports results. He always wanted to have a place here, and thankfully, he found his place here. And II can't be more thrilled for you two gentlemen, because you're both so deserving of this award.”
Mark Glendenning
During his long career in racing, Mark has been placed into a headlock by a multiple grand prix winner, escaped a burning GT car, ridden a Ferris wheel with Ari Vatanen and almost navigated a rally car into a pond. He’s also had the good fortune to have reported on hundreds of races around the world, first while working for a national publication in his native Australia, and later during his years with Autosport in the UK. He moved to the U.S. in 2012, and after a serving as a contributor to RACER he joined the publication full-time in 2015. Mark now serves as Editor of RACER.com, and is also involved in the production of the magazine.
Read Mark Glendenning's articles
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