MADISON, Ill. - Gateway International Raceway Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki was recently honored by the St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club with its Outstanding Media award. The award is given during the organization's annual Banquet of Champions. Batycki was recognized for his work as host of "Gateway to Motorsports," a weekly racing radio show airing on Team 1380 KSLG in St. Louis.
Batycki was sitting with I-55 Raceway's Ray Marler when ESPN drag racing analyst and hall-of-famer Bret Kepner walked up to the podium to announce the winner of the award. Batycki said he was shocked when he began hearing his own bio being read.
"I was just floored," Batycki said. "I'm absolutely serious when I say this is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. What makes this award so special is that it was given by an organization made up of the fans of our sport. For them to tell me that they think I did a good job is very humbling.
"The St. Louis area has so many good motorsports events. The more we can all grow the motorsports fan base in this area, the more everyone will benefit."
Eileen Waters, a board member for the St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club and the honorary starter of last year's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at GIR, said Batycki earned the honor based on his selflessness in promoting racing events all over the region.
"Part of the reason he received the award is because he tells everyone about ALL the other racing in town," she said. "When I mentioned it to him, he looked at me strange like that's not something out-of-the-ordinary; it is what you are supposed to do. That's Lenny.
That's one reason why he received that award. It is perfectly normal, for him, to tell everyone everything he can about racing."
The award reads:
"As Ken Schrader says, 'He's in it for the sport (of auto racing)!'
"It didn't take this gentleman long to fall in love with the history and diversity of racing that St. Louis has to offer. While helming the area's largest local racing facility, he also spearheaded a new motorsports weekly radio show and helped racing receive more mainstream coverage than ever before.
"What has set him apart in St. Louis motorsports radio in 2007 is his dedication to showcasing all forms of local racing, featuring the local experts, and most amazingly, promoting ALL the other racing radio show and sources of motorsports information in town!"
The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is extremely proud to honor a great champion of the St. Louis racing community, Gateway International Raceway's Vice President and General Manager, Lenny Batycki."
"Gateway to Motorsports" can be heard most Monday evenings at six on Team 1380. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club can be found on the Web at STLFanClub.com.
For more information on Gateway International Raceway, visit GatewayRaceway.com.
Batycki was sitting with I-55 Raceway's Ray Marler when ESPN drag racing analyst and hall-of-famer Bret Kepner walked up to the podium to announce the winner of the award. Batycki said he was shocked when he began hearing his own bio being read.
"I was just floored," Batycki said. "I'm absolutely serious when I say this is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. What makes this award so special is that it was given by an organization made up of the fans of our sport. For them to tell me that they think I did a good job is very humbling.
"The St. Louis area has so many good motorsports events. The more we can all grow the motorsports fan base in this area, the more everyone will benefit."
Eileen Waters, a board member for the St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club and the honorary starter of last year's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at GIR, said Batycki earned the honor based on his selflessness in promoting racing events all over the region.
"Part of the reason he received the award is because he tells everyone about ALL the other racing in town," she said. "When I mentioned it to him, he looked at me strange like that's not something out-of-the-ordinary; it is what you are supposed to do. That's Lenny.
That's one reason why he received that award. It is perfectly normal, for him, to tell everyone everything he can about racing."
The award reads:
"As Ken Schrader says, 'He's in it for the sport (of auto racing)!'
"It didn't take this gentleman long to fall in love with the history and diversity of racing that St. Louis has to offer. While helming the area's largest local racing facility, he also spearheaded a new motorsports weekly radio show and helped racing receive more mainstream coverage than ever before.
"What has set him apart in St. Louis motorsports radio in 2007 is his dedication to showcasing all forms of local racing, featuring the local experts, and most amazingly, promoting ALL the other racing radio show and sources of motorsports information in town!"
The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is extremely proud to honor a great champion of the St. Louis racing community, Gateway International Raceway's Vice President and General Manager, Lenny Batycki."
"Gateway to Motorsports" can be heard most Monday evenings at six on Team 1380. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club can be found on the Web at STLFanClub.com.
For more information on Gateway International Raceway, visit GatewayRaceway.com.
