Roger Penske honored with Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award

Roger Penske honored with Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award

Roger Penske, a man whose name is synonymous with success and excellence in the world of auto racing and the automobile business, became the fourth winner of the Keith Crain/Automotive News lifetime Achievement Award at a reception and dinner in his honor on Thursday, Jan 26, at The 2012 Washington Auto Show (WAS).

The occasion, rolling out during the course of the WAS Sneak Peek Preview, drew an overflow crowd of industry supporters and well-wishers to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to recognize a man whose racing teams have won not only a record 15 Indianapolis 500 races, but scores of victories in other racing series. In like form, Penske has distinguished himself mightily in automotive retailing with literally hundreds of dealerships worldwide.

Penske was welcomed to the city by Mayor Vincent Gray during the WANADA Reception that preceded the dinner and was also presented a special award by Ralph Gilles, president of SRT, which crafts and incorporates high-performance offerings for the Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep brands, along with various motorsport and racing operations. (See article immediately preceding this one).

The award dinner festivities were commenced by WANADA chairman Chip Lindsay (Lindsay Automotive) followed by a tribute from GM North America president Mark Reuss, who said he had known Roger Penske since childhood. At GM, Reuss brought Penske Racing back to Chevrolet for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 race. Reuss praised Penske for his numerous efforts to boost the city of Detroit, which, besides bringing Indy Racing there was instrumental in landing the Super Bowl in the Motor City. Roger Penske is a man who knows how to get things done right and with perfection, Reuss said.

Those sentiments were echoed by AN publisher Keith Crain in presenting Penske with his Lifetime Achievement Award. Roger, or Captain as he is affectionately known by his teams, friends and business associates, is one of those few people who excel at everything he does, Crain said. He doesnt just give back to the community, he takes charge to ensure the benefits are delivered, Crain added.

In accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, Penske responded it was a highlight of his career, but that he was accepting it on behalf of the 35,000 plus employees in his organization who have all bought into his belief that effort equals results.