2021 EMPA Pocono Raceway Writers Contest & Brice's NAPA Photo Contest Award Winners
Pocono Raceway/EMPA 2022 Writer’s Contest
JUDGE’S OVERALL COMMENTS
Impressed with the quality and quantity of work submitted. Wish there were more than three awards to hand out in each category.
Your love for auto racing and passion for writing shows in each and every entry.
Impressed with your ability to “sniff out” stories, make something more out of what seems mundane, ask a second or third question, go to another source and tackle different aspects of the sport.
TIPS:
Don’t be afraid to take “risks” with your creativity in your writing. Ask a colleague or editor if something sounds OK for publication. Share ideas!
Keep stories in-depth because that’s what your readers expect, but work on being concise because readers’ attention spans wane the longer the story goes on.
Make you leads interesting, pull your readers into your stories. Keep them interested until the end…Strong quotes are obviously important to your stories, but don’t overuse them. It’s OK to paraphrase.
Use more than one source for features and personality profiles, preferably three and even four. They make much more well-rounded stories.
Keep being active eyes, ears and voices for the racing community and fans. You play an important role in this sport. For that you are to be commended, each and every one of you!
HAPPY 2023!
Pocono Raceway/EMPA 2022 Writer’s Contest
Feature
1st place Ron Hedger
“50 Years Of Super DIRT Week”
Speed Sport Magazine, September 2022
Judge’s comment: “Writer obviously well-versed on subject matter. Almost like he wrote it of the top of his head. Liked how he dropped a lot of names. Added really good quotes for more effect.” SUPERB!!
2nd place Mike Adaskaveg
“The Hit: Tony Stewart-Kevin Ward Incident Documentary”
Outside Groove, March 11, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Writer deftly revisits accident/moment still fresh in the minds of racing fans. Like how it’s broken down into several segments to keep readers attention.”
3rd place Dino Oberto
“Tom Wanick III Expands Race Shop To Better Handle Growing Team
Area Auto Racing News, November 15, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Article could have been entered into other categories (news, personality profile) but writer ties all together into a well done feature.”
Column
1st place Bruce Bennett
“Theater of the Absurd”
Speedway Illustrated, February 2022
Judge’s comment: “Well-written! Strongly worded. Backs up opinions with solid example to prove his points. Draws reader’s attention and prompts reaction throughout column.”
2nd place Scott Walsh
“Elliott Not Celebrating Long Pond Victory”
Scranton Times-Tribune
Judge’s comment: “Facts delivered in orderly comprehensive fashion. Top-notch follow-up column, “day-after” piece.”
3rd place Dan Anderson
“Acknowledging Addiction”
Speedway Illustrated, January 2022
Judge’s comment: “Creative, cleaver, humorous.”
Personality Profile
1st place Jim Donnelly
“A RACER BY TWO NAMES”
Speed Sport, January 2022
Judge’s comment: “Tremendous lead hooked me in the story…Tremendous story-telling kept me riveted throughout…A+ effort!”
2nd place Carol Houssock
The Four Horseman of MUD LANE
Speedway Illustrated, June 2022
Judge’s comment: “Just and entertaining, fun piece. Well-written!”
3rd place Bruce Bennett
“FROM NAZARETH TO NASCAR…Short-track racer Jimmy Horton has done it all”
Speedway Illustrated, June 2022
Judge’s comment: “Thorough piece with plenty of complementary information woven together well…Solid quotes are well-placed throughout article. Enjoyable read!”
Race Report
1st place Rebecca Kivak
“Busch endures roller coaster weekend”
Scranton Times-Tribune, July 25, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Clear, concise…easy for readers to follow from beginning to end.”
2nd place Ron Hedger
“Axsom Is $10,000 USAC Winner”
SpeedSport.com, February 20, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Vivid description of race…made me feel I was there. Strong quotes!”
3rd place Scott Walsh
“GRAG RACING… Driver outduels Gibbs down stretch to claim Xfinity race”
Scranton Times-Tribune, July 24, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Liked how writer “set-up” his story with background information. Showed his knowledge and experience by incorporating that into race recap.”
News
1st place Dan Anderson
“Boone” Explained
Speedway Illustrated, September 2022
Judge’s comment: “Liked how the author turned an otherwise basic press release into something more appealing to his reader without sacrificing pertinent information. Very well done!”
2nd place Scott Walsh
“M & M’s Named Title Sponsor For Pocono Raceway’s Cup Series Race”
Scranton Times-Tribune, May 24, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Another press release kicked up a notch with author’s readers in mind.”
3rd place Len H. Sammons
“Orange County Speedway To Live For Another Season, Future Remains in Doubt”
Area Auto Racing News, October 24, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Author well-versed in subject matter. Knew right people to seek comments from. Presents news at hand with solid background information.”
JUDGE’S OVERALL COMMENTS
Impressed with the quality and quantity of work submitted. Wish there were more than three awards to hand out in each category.
Your love for auto racing and passion for writing shows in each and every entry.
Impressed with your ability to “sniff out” stories, make something more out of what seems mundane, ask a second or third question, go to another source and tackle different aspects of the sport.
TIPS:
Don’t be afraid to take “risks” with your creativity in your writing. Ask a colleague or editor if something sounds OK for publication. Share ideas!
Keep stories in-depth because that’s what your readers expect, but work on being concise because readers’ attention spans wane the longer the story goes on.
Make you leads interesting, pull your readers into your stories. Keep them interested until the end…Strong quotes are obviously important to your stories, but don’t overuse them. It’s OK to paraphrase.
Use more than one source for features and personality profiles, preferably three and even four. They make much more well-rounded stories.
Keep being active eyes, ears and voices for the racing community and fans. You play an important role in this sport. For that you are to be commended, each and every one of you!
HAPPY 2023!
Pocono Raceway/EMPA 2022 Writer’s Contest
Feature
1st place Ron Hedger
“50 Years Of Super DIRT Week”
Speed Sport Magazine, September 2022
Judge’s comment: “Writer obviously well-versed on subject matter. Almost like he wrote it of the top of his head. Liked how he dropped a lot of names. Added really good quotes for more effect.” SUPERB!!
2nd place Mike Adaskaveg
“The Hit: Tony Stewart-Kevin Ward Incident Documentary”
Outside Groove, March 11, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Writer deftly revisits accident/moment still fresh in the minds of racing fans. Like how it’s broken down into several segments to keep readers attention.”
3rd place Dino Oberto
“Tom Wanick III Expands Race Shop To Better Handle Growing Team
Area Auto Racing News, November 15, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Article could have been entered into other categories (news, personality profile) but writer ties all together into a well done feature.”
Column
1st place Bruce Bennett
“Theater of the Absurd”
Speedway Illustrated, February 2022
Judge’s comment: “Well-written! Strongly worded. Backs up opinions with solid example to prove his points. Draws reader’s attention and prompts reaction throughout column.”
2nd place Scott Walsh
“Elliott Not Celebrating Long Pond Victory”
Scranton Times-Tribune
Judge’s comment: “Facts delivered in orderly comprehensive fashion. Top-notch follow-up column, “day-after” piece.”
3rd place Dan Anderson
“Acknowledging Addiction”
Speedway Illustrated, January 2022
Judge’s comment: “Creative, cleaver, humorous.”
Personality Profile
1st place Jim Donnelly
“A RACER BY TWO NAMES”
Speed Sport, January 2022
Judge’s comment: “Tremendous lead hooked me in the story…Tremendous story-telling kept me riveted throughout…A+ effort!”
2nd place Carol Houssock
The Four Horseman of MUD LANE
Speedway Illustrated, June 2022
Judge’s comment: “Just and entertaining, fun piece. Well-written!”
3rd place Bruce Bennett
“FROM NAZARETH TO NASCAR…Short-track racer Jimmy Horton has done it all”
Speedway Illustrated, June 2022
Judge’s comment: “Thorough piece with plenty of complementary information woven together well…Solid quotes are well-placed throughout article. Enjoyable read!”
Race Report
1st place Rebecca Kivak
“Busch endures roller coaster weekend”
Scranton Times-Tribune, July 25, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Clear, concise…easy for readers to follow from beginning to end.”
2nd place Ron Hedger
“Axsom Is $10,000 USAC Winner”
SpeedSport.com, February 20, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Vivid description of race…made me feel I was there. Strong quotes!”
3rd place Scott Walsh
“GRAG RACING… Driver outduels Gibbs down stretch to claim Xfinity race”
Scranton Times-Tribune, July 24, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Liked how writer “set-up” his story with background information. Showed his knowledge and experience by incorporating that into race recap.”
News
1st place Dan Anderson
“Boone” Explained
Speedway Illustrated, September 2022
Judge’s comment: “Liked how the author turned an otherwise basic press release into something more appealing to his reader without sacrificing pertinent information. Very well done!”
2nd place Scott Walsh
“M & M’s Named Title Sponsor For Pocono Raceway’s Cup Series Race”
Scranton Times-Tribune, May 24, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Another press release kicked up a notch with author’s readers in mind.”
3rd place Len H. Sammons
“Orange County Speedway To Live For Another Season, Future Remains in Doubt”
Area Auto Racing News, October 24, 2022
Judge’s comment: “Author well-versed in subject matter. Knew right people to seek comments from. Presents news at hand with solid background information.”