Series Staff

Randy Pobst Reflects on Winning Prestigious Cook Award

Sep. 12, 2012 - Topeka, KS - At the recent Pirelli World Challenge Championships' banquet in Sonoma, California, Randy Pobst, driver of the No. 6 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60, was presented with the 2012 Jim Cook Memorial Trophy, an annual award honoring the memory of James Edwin Cook (1939 – 1985). The award is presented at season’s end to the driver who has made significant contributions to the overall success of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships through promotional activities and a consistent display of good character and sportsmanship.

James Sofronas (left) congratulating Randy Pobst (middle) on the Cook award with Scott Bove, President and CEO of WC Vision (right).

Pobst, from Gainesville, GA, was a natural pick for the trophy, as the four-time Pirelli World Challenge Champion is among the Series’ true ambassadors and is more often than not the last driver to leave autograph sessions.

"The Jim Cook award is for contributions to the Pirelli World Challenge, but I feel like the series has done more for me than vice versa," said Pobst. "The award is a high honor that also stands for sportsmanship, and regular readers of my SportsCar column, 'Pobst Position', will recognize it is important to me and to our beloved sport. Race hard, race fair. Win because you drove better, don't take anybody out."

"Volvo couldn't be prouder of our K-PAX Volvo S60 Race team and in particular the Cook award presented to Randy Pobst, “said Jay Hamill, Manager of Tactical Advertising & Promotions, Volvo Cars of North America. “It didn't matter what was happening in the paddock, from a wreck to a podium, Randy is always there for teammates, the crew and the fans. He is always such a positive influence on everyone -- he is the teammate that everyone wants, the driver every crew member loves to work hard for and the one that always has time for people, especially the rookies. Randy is the consummate competitor and I know has the respect of every driver in the paddock."

For Pobst, the Cook award marked a stellar end to a challenging 2012 season, which included a driveshaft failure during a standing start in Detroit, and a car fire at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. However, following those two lows, the K-PAX team, led by Pobst, would bounce back, with the No. 6 car sweeping both races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and teammate Alex Figge in the No. 9 car notching a win in the season finale at Sonoma Raceway.

WC Vision President and CEO Scott Bove, a former Cook winner himself, noted: "Randy was a natural choice for the Cook award. His high level of dedication to the Pirelli World Challenge Championships is very valuable, and he has gone always above and beyond to spread the good word with enthusiasm."

Having just finished its 23rd consecutive season, the Pirelli World Challenge is one of North America's top production car-based racing championships. Divided into four separate categories (Pirelli World Challenge GT, Pirelli World Challenge GTS, Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car and Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car B-Spec), each race features thrilling standing starts, adrenaline filled door-to-door action and world-class drivers. The Pirelli World Challenge features cars from the world's most popular manufacturers – race-prepped versions of the cars driven on the streets. Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, the series races at North America's premier road and temporary street courses.