Suzi Elliott, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's senior manager of media relations, was announced May 24 as winner of the 2024 Jim Chapman Award for excellence in motorsports public relations.
The Chapman Award is considered by many in the industry as the highest honor in racing public relations. It is named in memory of Chapman, the legendary PR executive and innovator, who worked with Babe Ruth and was named Indy Car racing’s “most influential man” of the 1980s. Chapman died in October 1996 at age 80.
The announcement was made two days before the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in the IMS DEX Imaging Media Center by Michael Knight, chairman of the selection committee and one of Chapman’s closest friends. The award is determined by a vote of national media members and is authorized by the Chapman family. PR representatives from all forms of motorsports are eligible for consideration.
"Suzi's high level of engagement with the media is what Mr. Chapman considered essential," said Knight, the inaugural Chapman Award recipient in 1991 and now award rights-holder and non-voting chairman. "Jim would have admired that she does this at the Indianapolis 500, the world's most important and work-intensive race, and at the sport's premier showcase.
Elliott attended Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis prior to joining the IMS staff. Her duties include coordinating event coverage with virtually all the Indianapolis-area media, as well as those throughout Indiana and around the country on a year-round basis.
Established in 1991 by media and publicists within the CART series, the Chapman Award originally focused on achievement in CART. After a hiatus of several years, the award was resumed in 2004, with eligibility expanded to anyone working in racing PR.
