Little did the motorsports world know that, in addition to future stars such as Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby, a sports car race at Grand Central Airport in Glendale would also produce another big name.
Norma “Dusty” Brandel was covering that November 1955 race for the Glendale Citizen-News. Six decades later, on the opposite end of the country on Jan. 12, Brandel will be honored at the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Charlotte, N.C., as the recipient of the Squier-Hall Award. Named after NASCAR broadcasters Ken Squier and Barney Hall, the award was created in 2012 to honor media contributions to the sport. Squier and Hall were the initial recipients.
Past winners include Chris Economaki, Tom Higgins, Steve Byrnes and Benny Phillips. Brandel was chosen from a field of eight that also included the late L.A. Times writer Shav Glick, Russ Catlin, George Cunningham, Bob Jenkins, Bob Moore, Taylor Warren and Steve Waid.
“As the first woman to report from inside the NASCAR garage, Dusty Brandel blazed a trail for generations of reporters who followed her lead,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO last summer when the 2018 winner was revealed. “Though she was a pioneer for female journalists, that fact soon became just a footnote in an exemplary career – her journalistic talents and her dedication throughout a more than six-decade career far transcended gender. We look forward to honoring her with the well-deserved Squier-Hall Award.”
In 1972, Brandel created NASCAR history by reporting live from the Ontario Motor Speedway garages. A year earlier, she was among the first women allowed in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway press room. Brandel was also among the first to drive Riverside International Raceway and has been a regular at Fontana’s Auto Club Speedway since opening day in 1997.
“Dusty’s commitment to auto racing coverage nationally and here at Auto Club Speedway over the years has been second to none,” said Dave Allen, ACS president. “As a trailblazer in the industry, being honored with the Squier-Hall Award is long overdue. As an award-winning journalist and an ambassador for the motorsports industry, we look forward to her outstanding coverage for years to come.”.
Brandel, a Southern California resident, has also been very active in the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, which annually selects an All-American racing team. She is president and executive director of the 400-plus member organization.
“Dusty Brandel has been simply tireless in her in-front and behind-the-scenes work that has kept AARWBA both pertinent and vital,” said veteran publicist Doug Stokes, a 30-year member of the organization. “Her leadership is always delivered with a smile and a timely measure of encouragement and our membership is universally appreciative of what she has meant to the profession.”
Brandel is also a member of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame
“I’ve been very fortunate to have been involved it motorsports early and have so many friends in the racing community,” said Brandel.
SUPERCROSS OPENER
Anaheim Stadium will once again be the site of the AMA Supercross season opener on Saturday, the first of two events at the stadium and three in Southern California. It’s the start of a wide-open championship race as Ryan Dungey, who won the last three riding champions, retired after the 2017 season and creates an opportunity for three riders fro Southern California.
Blake Baggett of Grand Terrace, who suffered from a thumb injury most of the ’17 season, finished sixth aboard a KTM. Sherman Oaks’ Cole Seeley was seventh on a Honda while Josh Grant of Wildomar, who rides a Kawasaki, was slowed by nagging injuries. They’ll be competing against Eli Tomas (Kawasaki), Marvin Musqion (KTM) and Ken Roczen (Honda) for top honors.
As the Anaheim stops on the circuit are usually sold out, fans will notice a few changes in the series that has competed in Southern California for 40 years. It’ll be the debut of a new points system that organizers hope will create a more competitive race at each stop and for the season. Semifinal races have been eliminated, meaning the top nine racers in each heat advance to the main event and 10-20 to the last chance qualifier.
A Triiple Crown format will also be introduced with competition in Anaheim, Atlanta and Minneapolis. The 22 riders in the finals will compete in 8-, 12- and 15-minute finals (6, 10 and 12 for the 250cc class). An Olympic-style scoring system will determine the main event winner, with the lowest combined score being declared the first-place finisher.
PIT STOPS
* Hallie Deegan, daughter of legendary X-Games athlete Brian Deegan, will be part of the Bill McAnally Racing team for the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series, running the West full-time and some of the East series. The Temecula resident will drive the No. 19 Mobil/NAPA Toyota Camry.
She has a background in off-road racing, as well as super late model competition.
“She’s a very talented driver, who brings with her a lot of energy and excitement,” said McAnally. “We look forward to being a big part of Hailie’s development as she takes this next step in her racing career. We anticipate great things ahead for everybody, including our partners and fans.”
* Perris Auto Speedway will host its annual Winter Heat — featuring IMCA Modifieds, Super Stocks, Street Stocks and American Factory Stocks — on Jan. 13 and 14
Tickets are $15 for each day. Active military (with proper ID), teens 13-18 (with school ID) and kids 6 through 12 are $5. Children five-and-under are free. Gates will open at 2 p.m. and racing will start at 3.
The shows will feature heat races, B mains (if applicable) and A mains for all classes. IMCA Modified for each show will pay national, regional, state and PAS points.
* Damion Gardner, a regular at Perris Auto Speedway, will compete in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals next week in Tulsa, Okla. The 2008 winner of the event and six-time USAC/CRA Sprint Car champion will be joined by Terry Klatt, Bob East and longtime open wheel car owner Doug Schloss in his quest.
The car is being raced in honor of Jason Leffler, the Long Beach driver who was fatally injured in a 2013 crash. Schloss at the 32nd annual race inside the River City Expo Center in Tulsa. Schloss was no stranger to Leffler as he worked for Kyle Busch when Leffler was driving one of his trucks in NASCAR.
The largest midget race in the world, the Chili Bowl attracts more than 300 cars annually with drivers from NASCAR, Indy Cars, World of Outlaws, NHRA, USAC and more. The race will be spread over five nights commencing on Tuesday and finish with the finals on Jan. 13.
* According to ESPN’s Bob Pockrass, Roush Fenway racing has sold one its NASCAR charters to Penske Racing, which will be used by Ran Blaney in the No. 12 Cup car. Roush Fenway has two charters remaining, for drivers Ricky Stenhousse Jr. and Trevor Bayne.,