NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace (left) presented WRAL-TV’s Jeff Gravley with an award for motorsports reporting.

WRAL-TV Sports Anchor Jeff Gravley recently received recognition for his sports reporting by winning the coveted Russ Catlin Award in the broadcast-local category. The 20th annual presentation of the Miller Lite Motorsports Journalism Awards of Excellence took place on Wednesday, January 26, 2005, at the new Penske Racing South facility in Mooresville, NC.

Five journalists were honored, including Gravley, for their outstanding motorsports coverage. Awards were presented in five categories. The awards are named in memory of motorsports journalism pioneer Russ Catlin.

Gravley received a plaque and a Rolex watch as part of the Russ Catlin Award for local broadcasting.

Gravley won for the story “History of Occoneechee Speedway.” Judges cited his work for being an original idea with a nice use of sources and interviews. “Old photos are incorporated well with new visuals,” the judges commented. “Story is well-structured and well-written; an elegance to its simplicity.”

Miller Lite NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Rusty Wallace made the presentation, giving Gravley a plaque and a Rolex watch.

Gravley won the award amongst a record number of entries. Faculty members from the Indiana University School of Journalism selected the winners.

Gravley is the first WRAL reporter to receive this honor.

 Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Clarence Williams for contributing to this capcom story.