Dan Elliott, General Manager of Gresham Motorsports Park, also spoke during the event.

J.B. Day, of Greenville, SC (center), was honored as the 2011 recipient of the annual Annie Dean Samples Spirit Award. He is pictured with Suzanne Wise (left), the curator of Curator of the Stock Car Racing Collection at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, and with 2010 spirit award winner Vaudell Sosebee (right).

J.B. Day is all smiles as he makes his way to the stage.

Dan Elliott (left), Bill Elliott (center) and Ernie Elliott (right) were on hand to represent their late father, George Elliott.