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.

Cathy Mosteller, an ONMC national advisor from Travelers Rest, S.C. was presented an award for her outstanding leadership and commitment to local chapters and club activities, and Becky Amos was honored for her charitable work involving ADAM the Bear and the Victory Junction Gang Camp for chronically ill children.

ADAM has shirts signed by each Nextel Cup driver, and the bear and all his clothes will be auctioned off soon with all proceeds going to the VJGC.

Ginny Darcey

Pat Brady

Dwane Hall was presented with the Pioneer Award for being the first local headquarters chapter of the ONMC. Based in Buffalo, N.Y., Hall's Sportsmen's Tavern is the anchor in the newest ONMC marketing program. The establishments serve as gathering places for NASCAR members and fans.

Several members of the media provided fireworks with a rousing panel discussion of NASCAR issues of the day. Among them were David Poole, Lee Spencer, NASCAR Scene's Bob Pockrass, PRN radio host Mark Garrow and noted columnist Jerry Bonkowski. Radio personality Claire B. Lang was scheduled to be part of the show, but was unable to attend when her daily program ran long.

Other notables in attendance included 88-year-old "Mad Marion" MacDonald, who raced on the Daytona beach course as far back as 1938; NASCAR's Liz Schlosser, Emily Leverone and Heather Greene; NASCAR Hall of Fame executive director Winston Kelley and the Hall's historian, Buz McKim; representatives of the Victory Junction Gang Camp and Speedway Childrens Charities and both Jimmy Dash and Jack Diesel, stars of the upcoming NASCAR Comics title NASCAR Heroes.

On Friday morning, the ONMC gathered at Joe Gibbs Racing in Huntersville for break-out sessions and a behind-the-scenes shop tour. More than 150 members got a big surprise when owner Joe Gibbs himself showed up at the end of the tour for autographs and photos.

For more information on the Official NASCAR Members Club, please click the link on the home page of NASCAR.COM.