George Cunningham Award

National Motorsports Press Association

George Cunningham Award

Recognizes excellence in writing. The award is based on total points earned in the various print categories (Spot News, Race Coverage, Columns and Feature). Since 2005, the award has been presented in two divisions: Daily/Internet and Non-Daily.

wdt_ID Year Recipient Publication Division
1 2022 Ryan McGee ESPN.com
2 2021 Tarren Waack* NASCAR.com
3 2019 Dustin Long NBCSports.com
4 2019 Matt Crossman NASCAR.com
5 2019 Mike Adaskaveg Speedway Illustrated
6 2018 Ryan McGee ESPN.com
7 2017 Kelly Crandall Racer.com
8 2016 Kelly Crandall PopularSpeed.com
9 2015 Ryan McGee ESPN the Magazine
10 2014 Ryan McGee ESPN the Magazine
11 2013 Bob Pockrass SportingNews.com
12 2012 Ryan McGee ESPN the Magazine
13 2011 Dustin Long Virginian Pilot/SI.com
14 2010 Ryan McGee ESPN the Magazine Daily & Internet
15 2010 Ryan McGee ESPN the Magazine Non-Daily
16 2009 Nate Ryan USA Today Daily & Internet
17 2009 Bob Pockrass NASCAR Scene Non-Daily
18 2008 David Poole Charlotte Observer Daily & Internet
19 2008 Mike Hembree NASCAR Scene Non-Daily
20 2007 Monte Dutton Gaston Gazette Daily & Internet
21 2007 Mike Hembree NASCAR Scene Non-Daily
22 2006 David Poole Charlotte Observer Daily & Internet
23 2006 Kenny Bruce NASCAR Scene Non-Daily
24 2005 David Poole Charlotte Observer Daily & Internet
25 2005 Nate Ryan Richmond Times Dispatch Daily & Internet
26 2005 Matt Crossman Sporting News Non-Daily
27 2004 Al Thomy Speedway Scene
28 2003 Kenny Bruce NASCAR Scene
29 2002 Mike Hembree Greenville News
30 2001 David Poole Charlotte Observer
31 2000 Kenny Bruce Kingsports News
32 2000 Jeff Owens Winston Cup Scene
33 1999 Jim McLaurin The State
34 1998 Dick Berggren Speedway Illustrated
35 1997 Tom Jensen Winston Cup Scene
36 1996 Deb Williams Winston Cup Scene
37 1995 Mike Hembree Greenville News
38 1994 Thomas Pope Fayetteville Observer
39 1993 Jim McLaurin The State
40 1992 Mike Hembree Greenville News
41 1991 Bob Myers Circle Track Magazine
42 1990 Deb Williams Winston Cup Scene
43 1989 Steve Waid Winston Cup Scene
44 1988 Benny Phillips High Point Enterprise
45 1987 Tom Higgins Charlotte Observer
46 1986 Ray Cooper Greensboro News

* 2021 was a combined contest with 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic