INDIANAPOLIS – Amy Walsh Stock of Jimmie Johnson Racing and Steve Shunck of BorgWarner were the two recipients of the Jim Chapman Award for excellence in motorsports public relations.
The Chapman Award is considered by many in the industry as the highest honor in racing public relations. It is named in memory of Chapman, the legendary PR executive and innovator, who worked with Babe Ruth and was named Indy Car racing’s “most influential man” of the 1980s. Chapman died in October 1996 at age 80.
The announcement was made at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Dex Imaging Media Center by Michael Knight, chairman of the selection committee, and one of Chapman’s closest friends. The award is determined by a vote of national media members and is authorized by the Chapman family. PR representatives from all forms of motorsports are eligible for consideration.
Kevin Diamond was this year’s winner of the Bob Russo/Bill Marvel Award for tireless dedication to the sport of auto racing. Diamond is another longtime publicist who has worked for several agencies and represented Philip Morris during the glory days of Marlboro Team Penske. Most recently, Diamond is the publicist for Vasser Sullivan’s IMSA Sports Car team.
The final award of the day was the Robin Miller Award, which also had double winners. The late T.E. McHale was honored posthumously for his incredible work and dedication as the Motorsports Manager at American Honda. The other recipient was Judi Kouba Dominick, who has spent decades working in racing public relations and is currently Chevrolet’s PR director for IndyCar, IMSA and Drag Racing PR.
Both Walsh-Stock and Shunck have significant professional assignments at Sunday’s 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Walsh-Stock is the communications director for seven-time NASCAR Cup series champion Jimmie Johnson, scheduled to make his first start in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Shunck represents the Borg-Warner Corp., presenter of the world-famous trophy that goes to the race winner, as well as the traditional wreath placed over that driver’s shoulders.
It’s the fifth time in award history that a tie vote has resulted in two recipients in the same year.
“Both Amy and Steve are greatly deserving of this award, especially because they mirror Mr. Chapman’s example of pro-actively working to have good relationships with the media,” said Knight, the inaugural Chapman Award recipient in 1991 and now award rights-holder and non-voting chairman.
“Jim set the ultimate standard of professionalism, which forever elevated PR and media relations. His word and handshake were his bond. He only did things one way: First class. Most importantly, he knew that solid professional relationships with journalists was important in good times and absolutely essential in bad times.
“Jim was a true ‘people person’ and knew nothing could replace a handshake, a face-to-face conversation, a shared meal, or the sound of another person’s voice.
“If still with us, I’m certain he’d speak out about the highly impersonal way PR is now done by too many, who think social media messages equal relationship-building. He’d point out an E-mail isn’t ‘personalized’ by addressing it to ‘all.’ Jim not only knew journalists, but he also knew them as people, because he reached-out and engaged them in conversation.”
The Chapman Award has three major purposes: 1. To honor Chapman’s unmatched legacy; 2. To recognize current PR practitioners who work to Chapman’s standard and in his spirit; 3. To provide learning and inspiration for newer and future PR representatives.
Walsh-Stock began a career with NASCAR drivers, teams, and sponsors in 2000. That list included Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, and Elliott Sadler. She spent 16 years with all-time NASCAR championship team Hendrick Motorsports as communications manager, senior media relations representative, account executive and brand and digital manager.
She started representing Johnson with the media in 2014 and was part of his record-tying seventh Cup championship team in 2016 and final full-time NASCAR season in 2020. Walsh-Stock then continued with Johnson to Chip Ganassi Racing when he switched to select NTT IndyCar Series races in 2021, also doing media for champion driver Alex Palou. She also works with Johnson at his select IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car appearances and directs communications for the Jimmie Johnson Foundation.
Shunck has worked with sanctioning bodies, teams, tracks, network TV, drivers, and corporations. His career began in 1988, when working in the University of Michigan sports information department, he helped with a press kit layout (on a then revolutionary Apple Macintosh computer) for 1985 Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan. He went on full-time positions with CART, NASCAR, Champ Car, and IndyCar vice president of communications plus assignments with ABC Sports and several drivers.
He’s had his own PR business since 2012. Especially noteworthy has been Shunck’s assistance with Indy winners Parnelli Jones, the late Al and Bobby Unser, and other legendary drivers.
Established in 1991 by media and publicists within the CART series, the Chapman Award originally focused on achievement in CART. After a hiatus of several years, the award was resumed in 2004, with eligibility expanded to anyone working in racing PR.