MIKE AIELLO AWARD TO EDWARDS

POMONA, California (Nov. 17, 2009) -- Pro Stock driver Mike Edwards was named the third recipient of CompetitionPlus.com's Mike Aiello Spirit of Drag Racing Award Saturday at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

The award honors Aiello, a longtime drag-racing fan and former Pro Stock crew member for Jerry Yeoman, who spent his final years confined to a wheelchair after a workplace injury. Despite physical hardship and severe mobility limitations, he not only attended drag races but made dozens of friends among racers, crew members, and media with his positive outlook and unselfish behavior.

Aiello passed away December 29, 2006, at age 39, in Santa Monica, California.

The recipient is someone who has persevered and remained positive in spite of hardship.

Edwards, 52, of Coweta, Oklahoma, has driven the Young Life/A.R.T. Pontiac GXP to five victories and 15 No. 1 qualifying positions this season. In his bid for a first Pro Stock Full Throttle championship in 16 years of competing, Edwards not only won the 2009 championship but also tied Greg Anderson's 2004 NHRA record for most top-qualifying awards in a single season.

CompetitionPlus.com owner Bobby Bennett made the presentation to Edwards Saturday morning at the Auto Club Raceway of Pomona, before the third session of qualifying for the National Hot Rod Association's Auto Club of Southern California Finals.

"This means a lot to me. It really does," Edwards, a longtime friend of Aiello, said. "I really adored Mike. He always had something good to say about everybody. I don't know what he went through, but I can imagine what he went through. I know he loved what he was doing. It's shame he couldn't be here today, because he meant a lot to me. He really did."

John Medlen, John Force Racing crew chief and director of the Eric Medlen Project devoted to race-car safety, was the inaugural Mike Aiello Award honoree. Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson was the 2009 recipient.

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