Stewart Takes home RRDC Mark Donohue Award

TOPEKA, Kan. (Nov. 4, 2015) – Calvin Stewart, of Novi, Michigan, was named the latest winner of the Road Racing Drivers Club’s Mark Donohue Award. Stewart won the award after a thrilling victory in Formula 500 at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Garmin VIRB at Daytona International Speedway in late September.

The award is presented annually to a driver that displays outstanding performance, competitiveness and sportsmanship during the SCCA Runoffs. The award is named after RRDC member, and former president, Mark Donohue, a familiar name in SCCA and other road racing circles. Donohue won his first SCCA National Championship in 1961, before moving on to become one of the most famous United States-born racecar drivers in history. He won the Indy 500 while also scoring numerous wins in Can-Am, Trans-AM and IROC (International Race of Champions). Donohue lost his life in 1975 at the F1 Austrian Grand Prix.

Stewart, in the No. 7 Novarace LLC/Sabbathtruch.com NovaKar Blade F600/Suzuki, started the race from the second-place starting position. However, he wanted to lead from the drop of the green flag. Stewart was the official lap leader during each of the 14 laps, but withstood a back-and-forth battle with Matthew Strand for the top spot. Drafting tactics on the long straights and high-banks of Daytona played a huge role in deciding the ultimate winner in the class. The win came in Stewart’s fifth start at the event.

Stewart began his racing career behind the wheel of a kart in 1984, scoring 10 championships in eight years. From there, he moved to Formula Continental and Formula 500.

"When I was told I was going to win the Mark Donohue Award, and that I was even nominated for the award, I was just out of my mind,” Stewart said. “I said, 'Are you kidding me?' That's like a very prestigious award and I am so honored to even be put in the same sentence with some of the former champions who have won the award. I'm floored, actually.

"To win the award named for an iconic pioneer in this sport is just amazing."

Current RRDC President Bobby Rahal, a former Runoffs and Indy 500 winner, has made a career of racing. However, he still remembers what it meant to win at the Runoffs and was sure to congratulate Stewart on his achievement.

"The RRDC honors Calvin not only for his outstanding drive to win, but for his ability to use his and his car's best assets to skillfully, strategically and safely win a championship against other outstanding drivers and cars in the field."

Additional information, including full results for the 2015 SCCA Runoffs Presented by Garmin VIRB can be seen at SCCA.com. Additional information on the Road Racing Drivers Club can be viewed at RRDC.org.

Image: Stewart raced to victory circle during the SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Garmin VIRB at Daytona International Speedway.
Credit: Shawn Lumley