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Will Nonnamaker's Akin Award Speech
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Posted (12/06/2005) - TRANSCRIPT OF WILL NONNAMAKER'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR THE BOB AKIN SPORTSMAN AWARD AT THE GRAND AMERICAN ROLEX BANQUET It's a very special honor to be the 2005 recipient of the Bob Akin Sportsman award. Not only because this is the inaugural year of the award. But to achieve this accolade driving a similar Red Porsche as Mr. Akin himself made so famous. On behalf of Team Sahlen and the Sahlen Family, I would like to thank the France Family, Rodger Edmondson, Mark Rafauff and the entire Grand American Staff for their vision and dedication to building the best Sports Car series around. Racing last year's SGS Rolex champion Marc Bunting to the wire made this season all the more memorable. Marc was equally deserving of this award, but thanks to the opportunity from Synergy Racing and the VanWijk family, I was able to complete this goal down in Mexico. A 14 race season makes for a lot of ups and downs. And we had our fair share. None more typifies the dedication of our crew on Team Sahlen than the CompUSA Watkins Glen weekend where we lost the motor in Qualifying, caught fire in warm up,,and then battled through wreck after wreck to secure a 7th place in the race. There is no way I would find myself on this podium without dedicated partners - from HRPWorld.com to GOJO to Hawk to Grassroots Motorsports to Fikse to Kempthorn ,,each one of these have been with us for over 5 years And a Big thanks to my Crew, my Mom and Dad, my Brother Wayne and Wife Holly whom made sacrifices this year so I could be here today. But most of all I would like to say a big heartfelt Thank You to Joe and Anita Sahlen, for whom it has been a privilege and honor to drive for this year. For years, Sahlen's dedication to Grand American was visible from the Sahlen's 6 hours to the Sahlen's Paddock Club. And this year, we were able to extend that presence with a 9 car Team Sahlen effort and bring home this award Again, thank you for this honor. |
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