Thursday in New York City, former track owner Bob Bahre was honored at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon. The former owner of the New Hampshire Motor Speedway and an advocate for NASCAR throughout the Northeast was presented with the annual Buddy Shuman Award.

One of the oldest and most prestigious awards, the Buddy Shuman Award has been awarded each year since 1957 to someone that has made a significant contribution to NASCAR. The award is given in memory of former NASCAR driver Buddy Shuman who was killed in a hotel fire in 1955.

"Bob was a pioneer in NASCAR's growth in the northeast," NASCAR President Mike Helton explained. "He's one of the most respected men in the sport - ever." Bahre is the former owner of the New Hampshire Motor Speedway and played and integral part in bringing the sport of NASCAR to the Northeast. After purchasing the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 1989, Bahre made improvements to the track and reopened it in 1990. Hosting NASCAR events since being reopened, the Cup Series made its first stop at the Magic Mile in 1993, with Rusty Wallace scoring the inaugural win.

After reopening in 1990 the New Hampshire Motor Speedway became New England's largest sports facility. The New Hampshire Motor Speedway includes a 1.056-mile oval track and a 1.6-mile road course and room for 105,491 spectators. In 2007, Bahre and his son Gary sold the New Hampshire Motor Speedway to Bruton Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc.

Bahre will be inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame on January 25, 2009.