INDIANAPOLIS – Longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway publicist Suzi Elliott, one of the hardest-working and most diligent and reliable employees on President Doug Bole’s IMS staff, was honored Friday morning as the 2024 recipient of the Jim Chapman Award. Elliott is the IMS Senior Manager of Media Relations.
“I want to thank my family for putting up with the crazy hours, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, and thank you Doug Boles and Mark Miles, not only great leaders but great friends,” Elliott said to IMS President Doug Boles and Penske Entertainment President Mark Miles. “I came here on a field trip when I was 8 years old, sat in these stands, watched my idols race. I told my mom I was going to work at IMS.
“It took me a long time to get there. This is year No. 19 right now. Thank you for putting up with my moods and for keeping me young.
“Thank you, all.”
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 Friday before the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in IMS’ 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.
“Suzi’s high level of engagement with the media is what Mr. Chapman considered essential,” said Knight, the inaugural Chapman Award recipient in 1991 and now award rights-holder and non-voting chairman. “Jim would have admired that she does this at the Indianapolis 500, the world’s most important and work-intensive race, and at the sport’s premier showcase.
“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 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.”
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.
Elliott attended Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis before joining the IMS staff. Her duties include coordinating event coverage with virtually all the Indianapolis-area media, as well as those throughout Indiana and around the country on a year-round basis. In addition to the Indy 500, IMS hosts NASCAR and IMSA races.
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.
The permanent Jim Chapman Award is cast in bronze and features a classic photo of Jim wearing his favorite navy blue double-breasted blazer and the names of all the award recipients. The raised text under Jim’s photo reads:
“James P. Chapman (1916-1996). A great man who deeply cared about country and church; family and friends. A legend in the public relations industry who set the ultimate standard of professionalism and excellence. A superstar who superstars like Babe Ruth wanted at their side. A pioneer in motorsports PR who practically invented most of what is now considered routine. A true ‘People Person’ who knew a mutually-respectful
“All who ever have, do or will work in public relations stand on Mr. Chapman’s shoulders.
“The true honor of the Jim Chapman Award is not a plaque. The true honor is having one’s name forever associated with that of the great James P. Chapman. A committee of journalists adjudged those named here worthy of this high honor.”
Jim Chapman Award Honorees:
1991 – Michael Knight
1992 – Tom Blattler
1993-94 – Deke Houlgate and Hank Ives
1995 – Kathi Lauterbach
1996 – Marc Spiegel
1997 – Mike Zizzo
1998 – Tamy Valkosky
1999 — Carol Wilkins
2000-2003 – (Award not presented)
2004 – Doug Stokes
2005 – Susan Arnold
2006 – Kevin Kennedy
2007 – Dave Densmore and Bob Carlson
2008 – Judy Stropus
2009 – (Award not presented)
2010 — Jim Hunter
2011 — Bill York
2012 — Judy Kouba Dominick and Nancy Wager
2013 — Anne Fornoro
2014 — Jon Edwards and Elon Werner
2015 — Linda Vaughn (honorary)
2015 — David Ferroni
2016 — T.E. McHale and Dan Layton
2017 — Andy Hall
2018 — Dick Jordan
2019 — Dan Zacharias
2020 — (Award not presented)
2021 — Owen A. Kearns
2022 — Amy Walsh Stock and Steve H. Shunck
2023 — (Award not presented)
2024 — Suzi Elliott