INDIANAPOLIS — Paul Kelly, whose unhesitant help to journalists has made him countless media friends during a more than three-decades-long career, Friday was announced as recipient of the 2026 Honorary 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 30 years ago, in October 1996, at age 80.
The announcement was made two days before the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s DEX Imaging Media Center by Michael Knight, award chairman and rights holder, and one of Chapman’s closest friends. The award is authorized by the Chapman family. PR representatives from all forms of motorsports are eligible
The award was presented in association with the Society of Professional Motorsports Journalists (MotorsportsJournalists.org). The organization was founded less than two years ago by Hall of Fame broadcaster Paul Page, who serves as president, and Knight, the founding director.
“It’s almost impossible to name a media representative who hasn’t benefitted, directly-or-indirectly, from Paul’s help,” said Knight, the inaugural Chapman Award recipient in 1991. “That was a hallmark of Mr. Chapman. Jim taught me many times that the best way to represent an employer or client was to offer a hand-of-friendship to those in the media and help them, in any possible way, do their jobs.”
Kelly, a native and resident of Syracuse, N.Y., began his career in 1988 as a sportswriter and editor at daily and weekly publications in Connecticut and upstate New York. He moved to motorsports PR in 1993 with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
He began working for the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway in January 1998, moved to agency work involving IMSA-sanctioned series from 2014-16, then returned to IndyCar and IMS in February 2017. During his 26-year tenure with IndyCar and IMS, he has worked in a variety of public relations roles but has focused mainly on editorial, including media guides, press releases, website content and trackside notes.
Kelly was promoted to director of editorial for Penske Entertainment upon Penske Corp.’s purchase of IndyCar and IMS in January 2020, a role he continues to hold.
