News for January 21st 2010
Alabama Music Hall of Fame announces inductees and award winners
This week the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board announced the selection of seven people to be inducted during the 13th Induction Banquet and Awards Show to be held in the Convention Center in Montgomery, Thursday, March 25. David Johnson, executive director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, said, “We are proud to be returning to Montgomery for this celebrated event honoring our state’s great music achievers and unmatched musical heritage. During this event, the audience will be entertained by some of the most successful and talented Alabamians in the music industry as well as witness seven achievers being awarded with our most prestigious honor – induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.” The Board has hired Montgomery native and Nashville-based television producer Jimmy Carter and Crimson Tide sports network producer/engineer Tom Stipe, of Tuscaloosa, to produce the show.
The inductees and their categories are:
Performing artist/group category
The Blind Boys of Alabama and Eddie Levert, (the lead singer of the O’Jays.)
Music creator
Atlanta songwriter/record producer Buddy Buie and Nashville session musician Jerry Carrigan
Entertainment industry
Macon, Georgia, record producer/musician Paul Hornsby
John Herbert Orr Pioneer Award
The late Muscle Shoals musician Terry Thompson and singer/Colbert-Lauderdale County State Senator Bobby Denton.
Governor’s award
B. A. Nugent, of Point Clear.
Music industry award
Integrity, Inc. chief executive officer Michael Coleman, of Mobile.
Sam Phillips innovator’s award
Concert promoter Tony Ruffino, of Birmingham.
Jerry Wexler award
Former Muscle Shoals recording artist Mac Davis, of Los Angeles, California.
Arthur Alexander songwriter’s award
Singer/songwriter Mac McAnally, of Sheffield.
Alabama’s rising star award
Singer Jamey Johnson, of Nashville.
Media award
Original MTV veejay Alan Hunter, of Birmingham.
For more information on the Alabama Music Hall of Fame please see www.alamhof.org
Edited: January 21st, 2010
Barber Motorsports to light em up for testing
IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights teams will have two Open testing periods during the 2010 season beginning with a preseason Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park next month.
The Barber Motorsports Park Open Test, slated for Feb. 24-26, will be the only Open Test conducted prior to the start of the 2010 season. It marks the second-straight season that both IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights teams will conduct an Open Test at the scenic Alabama road course.
“The way the 2010 schedule falls allowed for the opportunity for our teams to focus their preseason plans on the road and street course events to open the season,” said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and racing operations for the Indy Racing League. “By shifting the oval testing portion to in-season Open Test dates, teams have the option of keeping their equipment in road-course trim until they are ready to focus on the oval portion of the schedule, including the month of May at Indianapolis.”
The first four races for IZOD IndyCar Series and first three Firestone Indy Lights races will be contested on road/street courses, including the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on April 11 at the 2.38-mile road course in Birmingham, Ala.
The Open test at Barber Motorsports Park will be the third time the IZOD IndyCar Series has held an Open test in Alabama. Seven drivers tested at the facility in October 2007 and both series hosted their preseason road course Open Test at the track last March.
“We are honored to have the Indy Racing League in Birmingham for the Open Test, which will be a prelude to the inaugural event in April,” said Gene Hallman, President of Zoom Motorsports, the exclusive event promoter of Barber Motorsports Park. “The Open Test will allow the drivers additional experience on the finest road course in North America.”
An in-season oval testing day for IZOD IndyCar Series teams is scheduled for the 1.5-mile oval at Kentucky Speedway on May 4. Firestone Indy Lights rookies will join IZOD IndyCar Series teams for their rookie oval orientation program at Kentucky Speedway on May 3.
IZOD IndyCar Series teams are allowed up to six private testing days and a minimum of 800 miles testing depending on the number of full-time cars fielded by the team, in addition to the three Open Test dates. Teams can earn an additional 300 bonus testing miles by testing a Firestone Indy Lights driver at least 600 miles for a maximum of three private test days.
The IZOD IndyCar Series season opens March 14 with its first race in South America — on the streets of vibrant Sao Paulo, Brazil — while the initial race for Firestone Indy Lights is March 28 on the picturesque St. Petersburg, Fla., street circuit.
Open Test Schedule
Barber Motorsports Park
Tuesday, Feb. 23
IZOD IndyCar Series Photo/Video Day
Wednesday, Feb. 24
IZOD IndyCar Series
Thursday, Feb. 25
IZOD IndyCar Series
Friday, Feb. 26
Firestone Indy Lights
Edited: January 21st, 2010