Matthew Turner receives the Ironman Award to commemorate his 124 consecutive races during Saturday's NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Banquet at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Turner's hometown, Dawsonville, GA. Photo by Angela Williamson
Matthew Turner rose to the occasion and humbly made his way to the stage at the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Awards Banquet.
Turner, driver of the No. 10 Headman Hustler DWB Special, received two awards, and the stage could not have been in a better place Saturday evening than in front of his family and friends at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, GA.
Turner was presented The Iron Man Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the series. He is a five-time recipient of the award, and has reached a milestone that no other driver in the series has touched.
“We’ve been to 124 consecutive races over the last seven years and have been able to make it to every national touring event since the inception of the series in 2005,” said Turner. “That’s a big accomplishment for us.”
“What makes this award so special is that we’re able to give it to him right here in front of his hometown,” said Roby Helm, president of Operations and Communications of the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series. “I’ll tell you what else is so special about this trophy. You look through this hall and you see all of these trophies, you’ve got guys that have won the same Winston Cup that Bill Elliott won in 1988.”
Helm explained that the Iron Man Award is unique because there’s only one driver who has it.
“I hope that at least one of Matthew’s trophies is enshrined, right here in the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.”
Turner responded to Helm’s request during his acceptance speech.
“I’m going to donate this trophy to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame because Gordon Pirkle (GRHOF Board of Directors chairman) has really helped me and a lot of other local drivers around here,” he said. “It means a lot to me to get this award, and I’m holding a lot of sweat and tears here.”
“We’re very appreciative of Matthew’s contribution to the Hall of Fame,” Pirkle said. “Matthew has had a great career in racing and we’re very proud of him. He’s one of the young guns that’s gonna continue to keep Dawsonville in the limelight for years to come.”
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Turner also placed third in points in the national touring series. The series sanctions more than 30 tracks stretching throughout the southeastern United States. During the 2011 season, Turner accumulated a total of 1,316 points, competing in 17 races with three top-fives, 10 top-tens, and one fast time.
Turner thanked all of his family, friends, sponsors and crew members and reminded them of how appreciative he is for their loyalty.
“These guys are what put my cars back together and they spend a lot of long nights away from their families,” Turner said. “Without them this wouldn’t be possible.”
He also thanked his father, David Turner.
“Look, Dad, this is all for you, and without you, I wouldn’t have been there 124 times,” he said.
Turner said he didn’t care much about racing while he was growing up.
“My dad raced for years and he tried and tried to get me to race,” he said. “I never did race up until I was 20 or 21 years old and then I decided I wanted to try it. Dad bought me my first car and we’ve been racing ever since.”
Turner received a standing ovation from his friends, family and series competitors after his speech, which included his plans for next year’s series.
“As of now, our plans for 2012 are to bring that Championship Cup to Dawsonville,” he said. “We keep chipping away and we’re gonna give it all we got.”
And do Turner’s plans include winning the Iron Man Award in the 2012 season? Roby Helm had the answer: “Like I say every year, you [Turner] keep coming to the races and we’ll keep handing out the Iron Man Awards.”
