Benny Phillips, a former sports editor for the High Point Enterprise, died Tuesday morning after a brief hospitalization, the paper said.
Phillips worked for the Enterprise for 48 years — 32 of those as sports editor — before his retirement in January 2008. In 2010, he was inducted into the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame, the Enterprise said. The Enterprise did not say how old Phillips was.
Phillips was best known for his work covering NASCAR, receiving more than 35 national and state journalism awards. He authored a column for Stock Car Racing Magazine for 27 years and was an on-camera commentator with MotorWeek Illustrated for 12 years. Phillips also published four books on stock-car racing.
In 1986, Phillips became the first journalist to win NASCAR's Buddy Shuman Award for outstanding contributions to stock-car racing. He was a seven-time recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association writer-of-the-year award.
On Thursday, NASCAR officials said that Pocono Raceway founder and chairman Dr. Joseph Mattioli has died. He was 86. Bob Pleban, the vice president of administration at Pocono Raceway, confirmed the news to The Associated Press, saying family members informed him Mattioli died around 1 p.m. in Allentown, Pa.
Known as "Doc" to friends and associates, Mattioli founded Pocono Raceway in the early 1960's and ran the speedway for more than 40 years with his wife, Rose. Under his leadership, the track grew and has played host to 68 NASCAR Cup series races.
Mattioli and his wife retired last year, handing over control of Pocono Raceway to their eldest three grandchildren.
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