Seven-time National Hot Rod Association Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher and IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti lead the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association's 40th All-America Auto Racing Team.

 

They have won the Jerry Titus Award, for AARWBA's Driver of the Year, the past three years. Schumacher's 2006 and 2008 triumphs sandwiched Franchitti's 2007 honor.

 

Joining them on the 2009 First Team are NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runner-up Mark Martin and champions Donny Schatz (World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series), Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney (Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series/Daytona Prototype), Ron Hornaday (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series), and J.R. Hildebrand (IndyCar Series' Firestone Indy Lights).

Seven-time National Hot Rod Association Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher and IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti lead the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association's 40th All-America Auto Racing Team.
 
They have won the Jerry Titus Award, for AARWBA's Driver of the Year, the past three years. Schumacher's 2006 and 2008 triumphs sandwiched Franchitti's 2007 honor.
 
Joining them on the 2009 First Team are NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runner-up Mark Martin and champions Donny Schatz (World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series), Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney (Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series/Daytona Prototype), Ron Hornaday (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series), and J.R. Hildebrand (IndyCar Series' Firestone Indy Lights).
 
Drivers represent seven categories – Open Wheel, Stock Car, Road Racing, Drag Racing, Short Track, Touring Series, and At-Large. Each First Team honoree will receive the prestigious Horsepower Trophy at the All-America Team Dinner Jan. 16 at the John Force Racing headquarters at Brownsburg, Ind.
 
Host Force is a four-time recipient of AARWBA's Jerry Titus Award, given in remembrance of the late racer/journalist. It signifies the top vote-getter on the All-America Team regardless of category.
 
This year his daughter, Ashley Force Hood, made the Second Team -- along with some distinguished company: 13-time NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Frank Manzo, Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, World of Outlaws headliner Joey Saldana, road-racing veterans David Brabham and Scott Sharp, and ARCA Re/Max Rookie of the Year and series runner-up Parker Kligerman.
 
NHRA Top Fuel series runner-up Larry Dixon and NHRA champions Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Robert Hight (Funny Car) were not forgotten for their outstanding seasons.
 
The trio received Honorable Mention (with at least five percent of the vote), along with NASCAR stars Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart (Stock Car), the teams of Gil deFerran/Simon Pagenaud and  Luis Diaz/Adrian Fernandez (Road Racing), Levi Jones and Brad Kuhn (Short Track), Justin Lofton (Touring Series), Travis Pastrana/Christian Edstrom (At-Large).
 
Schumacher won his seventh NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel championship, his sixth in a row, Nov. 15 at Pomona, Calif.  On the strength of his five victories in the U.S. Army Dragster, he earned his seventh selection as an All-America in the Drag Racing category. Each has been a First Team distinction.
 
Schumacher will have to wait until the end of the ceremony agenda to lean whether he will be named the Titus Award winner for the third time in four years.
 
According to Rocky Entriken, chairman of the AARWBA All-America Selections, "The shocker came in the Stock Car category, where Jimmie Johnson, on the heels of his unprecedented fourth straight Sprint Cup, and sentimental favorite Mark Martin, virtually split the vote with the ageless Martin coming out on top in the balloting by just two votes."
 
It is Martin's 15th time as an All-America, his fifth on the First Team. It is the eighth time Johnson has made the team. This time Johnson landed on the Second Team.
 
Entriken said the Titus Award came down to a two-vote separation between two drivers who dominated the voting in their respective categories.
 
Joie Chitwood will be keynote speaker, and AARWBA also will honor its Pioneer in Racing Award recipient.
 
The All-America Team Dinner and Ceremony, which will kick off AARWBA's 50th year, is open to the public. Tickets ($65) are available through www.aarwba.org.