IMRRC honors McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown with Argetsinger Award

CORNING, N.Y. (WENY) -- Over the past ten years the International Motor Racing Research Center has been presenting its Cameron R. Argetsinger award to people and groups that have made gracious contributions to motor racing.

This year, the IMRRC honored McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown with the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for his contributions to the racing community.

"I was surprised, which is great. A lot of friends here, a lot of people I've raced with. Bobby Rahal, I grew up watching, race one of my heroes. So it's it's an honor and a privilege to be here and be in Watkins Glen. And I look at the list of people that have been fortunate enough to, win the award, It's a pretty, pretty stellar group," said Brown, a former driver himself.

Brown worked his way up the ranks of the industry -- displaying his unmatched ability in marketing and promoting the sport of motor racing. It's a talent that the IMRRC are keen to recognize.

"We've honored some outstanding folks in motorsports in the past and Zak is the latest and very well deserved. Zak has risen through the ranks being a marketing and promoting expert and now CEO of McLaren Racing. So, very, very suitable, very worthy of the award," added current IMRRC executive director, Mark Steigerwald.

Legends of the sport have claimed the Argetsinger Award including Chip Ganassi, Roger Penske, Richard Petty, and former IMMRC chairman Bobby Rahal.

"I've known Zak for probably more years than he and I care to admit to, but, he's a definite mover and shaker. He makes things happen. He's done tremendous things for so many people finding sponsors when he was head of the owners just marketing to, now at McLaren," added Rahal, the 2019 Argetsinger Award recipient.

Brown is set for a busy weekend as McLaren drivers in IndyCar and Formula One will be competing in races in Nashville, Tennessee, and Baku, Azerbaijan respectively.