The Michigan Heritage trophy is a recognition and celebration of the automobile and its importance to the race track and manufacturers competing in NASCAR. The trophy is presented to the winning manufacturer in each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway.
MIS President Roger Curtis officially presented the Michigan Heritage to Jim Campbell, Chevrolet’s U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, for its two wins at NASCAR’s fastest track in 2014. The handover took place Tuesday at the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights with several Chevrolet drivers looking on, including Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
As part of the Michigan Heritage presentation, each contending manufacturer as well as MIS, committed $10,000 to be given to a youth-focused and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related charity in Michigan. Chevy, who won both NASCAR Sprint Cup events at MIS this summer, chose the Michigan Science Center (MiSci) as this year’s recipient. The science center will receive the $40,000 check to assist in its educational programs on Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
Chevy Racing will keep the trophy until the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series return to the Irish Hills for the Quicken Loans 400 on June 14, 2015.
“Winning this trophy, I’m so glad because there’s a donation that goes to the charity with it,” Campbell said in August after the Pure Michigan 400. “It’s fun to have the rivalry with Ford and Toyota. We won the trophy in the earlier race here (in June). It’s great to retain it. We had to bring it all the way back here. So we told our teams, we really want to win that trophy again.”
Jimmie Johnson recorded Chevy’s first 2014 Sprint Cup win at MIS when he pulled into Gatorade for the first time for the Quicken Loans 400 on his 25th attempt at the track. Chevy took home seven of the top 10 spots that day.
In August, Gordon kept the Chevrolet momentum rolling when he produced a track qualifying record of 206.558 mph. He then went out and won the Pure Michigan 400 to give Chevy the season sweep.
The Michigan Heritage, inspired by the iconic Stanley Cup, will recognize the winning manufacturer – Ford, Toyota or Chevrolet – after each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at MIS.
“Both our great State of Michigan and our sport of NASCAR are synonymous with the automobile and have a rich history with cars,” MIS President Roger Curtis said. “We are proud of the manufacturers and their involvement in NASCAR and presence in Michigan and The Michigan Heritage is a great way to honor and celebrate them. The manufacturers have taken great pride in winning the trophy and it was an honor to present it to Chevy today.”
The trophy was designed by Fortress Studios artists Steven Kuypers and Steven McShane, both graduates of Detroit’s College for Creative Studies. The Michigan Heritage trophy is three feet tall, weighs about 30 pounds and features an original sculpture similar to Greek goddess of victory Nike, also inspiration for classic cars hood ornaments from Cadillac, Rolls-Royce and Packard.
The original bronze artwork sits atop a wooden base similar to the architecture of Detroit landmarks such as the Fisher Building and Guardian Building.
Manufacturers are important to MIS. The track annually recognizes NASCAR’s manufacturers, asking fans in the grandstands to cheer on their favorite during a fun poll conducted over the PA system during pre-race ceremonies.
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