ONMC awards banquet honors 50,000th member

CHARLOTTE -- Just a few hours before NASCAR Day 2007 dawned bright and clear, the Official NASCAR Members Club's National Convention Awards Banquet and dinner provided a glow all its own.

Nearly 400 people crowded into a ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center to celebrate, among other things, the Club's 50,000th member, the history of NASCAR and the bright future of "square deals."

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ONMC chairman and CEO Pat Brady's keynote message was based on a principal long held in business: value for value.

"We demand that big business give the people a square deal. In return, when big business honestly endeavors to do right, they shall be given a square deal," Brady said, quoting Theodore Roosevelt.

"What does that have to do with us?" he asked. "It's got everything to do with us. It is exactly what the ONMC is about. We represent NASCAR fans, the people. We represent the largest, most loyal, most passionate affinity group in America. And we demand that big business give us a square deal.

"We raise our hand, we tell you who we are and what we want, and in return ... we want a better deal. That is what Teddy Roosevelt was talking about. And the good news is that today, with the power of technology and the Internet we can make those demands be heard."

The room, filled with members, VIPs such as NASCAR champions Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Richard Petty, Rex White and Jack Ingram and special guests like Tim Stamper of Sprint, Sean Dalton of Kangaroo TV and Geoff Lester of NASCAR, took that message to heart as NASCAR's only licensed fan organization celebrated another season and another milestone.

Melissa Digue, the ONMC's 50,000th member, was presented an ONMC Power Cube by Petty in the opening remarks, and later returned to the stage to assist master of ceremonies Kenny Wallace with the 2007 awards presentations.

Stamper, Dalton and Lester accepted an award for the development of the FanView, which is available for sale or rent at all Nextel Cup events.

White, the oldest living Cup champion (he won it in 1960), received the Champions' Award for dedication to the ONMC. FOX Sports and DirecTV earned an award for innovation in broadcasting with the development of NASCAR HotPass.

NASCAR Images' Jay Abraham accepted an award for that company's continuing efforts to preserve the history of the sport and for the movie Dale, which is in select theaters now. (Continued)