Recognizing class, dignity and strength, it’s one of the most important awards in sports. And this year, it goes to one of the most important sports figures of 2020 – an athlete who has had a profound impact on his sport and the national dialogue surrounding racial justice and unity. NASCAR driver Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. is the recipient of the 2020 Stan Musial Award for Extraordinary Character.
Bestowed annually at the Musial Awards in St. Louis, the Stan Musial Award for Extraordinary Character honors an individual who demonstrates remarkable poise, perseverance and overall sportsmanship. Although this year’s live Musial Awards is unable to take place due to the pandemic, Wallace will be honored – and presented his award – in the Musial Awards television broadcast airing nationally on CBS on Saturday, Dec. 26 (time TBD).
Wallace drives the famed No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series. As the only Black driver in NASCAR’s top circuit, he has been a trailblazer in his sport. In 2013, he won his first of six career NASCAR Truck Series races, becoming the first African-American in 50 years to post a victory in one of NASCAR’s top three national touring series. In 2018, he became the first African-American to race fulltime in NASCAR’s premier Cup Series and finished second in his Daytona 500 debut. Along the way, he has persevered through experiences of being on the receiving end of bigotry and prejudice.
This year, as the nation has grappled with unrest and injustice, Wallace took a courageous, visible stand promoting tolerance, understanding and unity, underscored by his push for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at races. Under the media microscope, he has demonstrated tremendous grace, humility and decency.
“Bubba Wallace exemplifies what the Stan Musial Award for Extraordinary Character is all about,” said Frank Viverito, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, which produces the Musial Awards with the National Sportsmanship Foundation. “He has overcome much to be where he is, and he has courageously stepped forward to take an important stand for change. He is most deserving of an award that stands for sportsmanship and character, and is named for Stan Musial, whose own actions promoted racial acceptance and unity.”
In addition to receiving an award named for the greatest Cardinal of them all, Wallace has another St. Louis connection. He is sponsored by St. Louis-based World Wide Technology. Bob Olwig, V.P. corporate business development, said, “World Wide Technology is proud of what Bubba has accomplished and the impact he is having on NASCAR, society and generations to come. We were thrilled to find out the Musial Awards wanted to recognize him. The character, kindness and courage Bubba has shown make him so deserving of this prestigious honor.”
Wallace joins Hank Aaron as a 2020 Musial Awards honoree. The baseball legend is receiving the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship. The Lifetime Achievement and Extraordinary Character awards are two special honors bestowed by the Musial Awards. Other 2020 Musial Award recipients will be announced in the coming weeks.
Past recipients of the Stan Musial Award for Extraordinary Character include St. Louis Blues superfan Laila Anderson, Loyola University Basketball Chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt (now 101 years young), soon-to-be Basketball Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, and Little League World Series star Mo’ne Davis.
The Musial Awards – presented by Maryville University – celebrate the year’s greatest moments of sportsmanship and those in sports who embody class and character. The national event and its awards are named for St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial, a beloved baseball superstar and civic icon who personified sportsmanship. In addition to keeping alive the legacy of Stan The Man, the mission of the Musial Awards is to encourage kindness, selflessness, integrity and civility in sports and society – and to inspire people across the nation to be good sports. The Musial Awards has taken place in St. Louis since 2005, and in normal times, occurs the Saturday before Thanksgiving at the historic 3,000-seat Stifel Theatre in Downtown St. Louis. It is produced by the St. Louis Sports Commission and the National Sportsmanship Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
MUSIAL AWARDS PLANS FOR STAN’S 100TH:
Although its traditional live show will not take place as scheduled this year, the Musial Awards is making other plans to mark Stan Musial’s 100thbirthday on Nov. 21:
- The Musial Awards will host an outdoor celebration at Busch Stadium that will adhere to social distancing guidelines.
- A “Stantennial” party box will be available for purchase, giving fans the opportunity to celebrate Stan’s 100thin their own homes.
- The Musial Awards has launched a Musial Moments campaign, encouraging fans to submit their favorite memories of Stan The Man and recount the personal interactions they had with the beloved baseball superstar and civic icon. Fans can share their stories atMusialAwards.com/Moments.
More details on the celebration at Busch Stadium and the “Stantennial” party boxes will be announced in the coming weeks.
The St. Louis Sports Commission is the privately-funded nonprofit organization that grows, strengthens and moves St. Louis forward through sports. The organization uses the power of sports to enhance the area’s quality of life and generate economic and social benefit for the St. Louis region.
- NHRA announces eight-race schedule for 2024 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series - January 17, 2024
- Forgeline and Pratt Miller Motorsports Announce New Multi-Year Partnership - January 17, 2024
- TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein converts narrow pole to commanding win in the Season 10 opener of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the 2024 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix - January 16, 2024