Oregon's Dwain Panian Named SCCA Starter of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Oct. 28, 2017) -- From the Runoffs to the Hoosier Racing Tire Super Tour, U.S. Majors Tour to regional weekends, SCCA road racing events are made possible thanks to the tremendous effort of SCCA workers. And each year, a handful of workers are recognized for their enormous contribution. Those individuals are bestowed with Worker of the Year honors, presented by Mazda.
 
"Running an event the scale of this year's Runoffs at Indianapolis Motor Speedway requires a lot of event officials and a lot of workers as well," said Michael Cobb, SCCA President and CEO. "Fortunately, the SCCA has the best in the business on both fronts supporting all our Club events. But this year they took their collective leadership to a whole new level with an all-new Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour series and a Runoffs for the record books. It is in this spirit that we are proud to honor this year's SCCA Workers of the Year."
 
The Flagging & Communications Worker of the Year is Tiffany Stiller of the Milwaukee Region. From the same Region, Michael Holz was named Sound Worker of the Year. And Glen Thielke, another Milwaukee Region member, received the Race Data Technician Worker of the Year award.
 
Dennis Bednar, of the Chicago Region, was awarded the Grid/Pit Worker of the Year. Kevin Coulter, also of the Chicago Region, was named Steward Worker of the Year.
 
Rosa Lee Smart, of Houston Region, earned the Registration Worker of the Year. Fellow Houston Region member Bill Skibbe also received Timing & Scoring Worker of the Year.
 
Scrutineer Worker of the Year was received by Matt Wojtkowiak Sr. of the South Jersey Region. Dwain Panian, of the Oregon Region, was named Starter Worker of the Year. The Emergency Services Worker of the Year is William Carter of the Colorado Region, and Race Administration Worker of the Year is Mark Smith of Cal Club.
 
Award recipients have shown dedication throughout the season to their Specialty, events, Region, competitors, fellow workers and the SCCA; exhibited strong skills, good leadership, and a willingness to go above and beyond what is expected; and provide excellent customer service to everyone encountered. SCCA members submitted Worker of the Year nominations, and winners were then selected by the SCCA national staff with input from Division leadership.

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