INDIANAPOLIS — The Hoosier Auto Racing Fan Club honored champions and presented special awards during its 56th annual awards banquet this past weekend.
HARF inducted Chris Economaki and Paul Hazen into its Hall of Fame and honored Jon Stanbrough as its Driver of the Year. The Fox Brothers — Brad and Steve — and DCR Chassis were recognized with the Mechanical Achievement Award.
Stanbrough won 30 sprint features in 2007, most of them in the Fox Brothers car. Those 30 wins, including five USAC competition and also three King of Indiana Sprint Series and the series championship and two Midwest Sprint Car Series races, represented a 43 percent win percentage. He finished in the top five 71 percent of the time and 81 percent in the top 10.
“I am just absolutely astounded that everything that has to go right week-in and week-out; 81 percent of the time you are in the top 10. Phenomenal,” said Kimb Stewart, in presenting the award, which was his third HARF Driver of the Year Award.
Stanbrough said much of the credit goes to his Foxco Team.
“I can’t remember having ever any failures of anything,” said Stanbrough.  “You know, I have been running for a long time and I feel like, obviously, that year after year I get a little bit smarter and try to time my moves right and think about what needs to be done.
“You don’t have a lot of time to think in a 30-lap sprint-car race, but I try to stay out of trouble and I guess that is why you get those kind of percentages.”
Other special awards were presented to: Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Hoosier Swap Meet Driver of the Year; Casey Shuman, Jimmy Caruthers Memorial Most Improved Driver; Kenny Niflis, First Year Driver; Billy Marvel, Jr., Hoosier Sprint Rookie of the Year, Jeff Bland, Jr.
Also, President’s Award, Sam Richey; Jim Morrison, Media; Duane and Sonja Alexander, Gene Powlen Fan Appreciation; Jiggs Thomason, Dynamite RaceCars Promoter’s Option; Emma Ray Award for Courage, Rich Winings; Emma and Joie Ray Award for Courage, The Ray Family; Jack Gladback Memorial Award, Gerald Walker; HARF Sportsmanship Award, Barb and Roger Tapy; Wolfpack Track Announcer, Pat Sullivan and Brad Dickison.
HARF also recognized driving champions for Indiana race tracks and series championships.