STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. - When you manage to clean up across multiple spectrums, series and divisions of motorsports, you owe yourself a celebration.
Such was the case Wednesday at the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, where Chevrolet and Cadillac’s respective driver and manufacturer championships for 2015 were celebrated and honored.
Drivers and champions recognized included:
- Scott Dixon, No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, Verizon IndyCar Series driver’s champion
- Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, 99th Indianapolis 500 champion
- Chris Berube, Chevrolet racing program manager, IndyCar, IndyCar manufacturer’s championship
- Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi, No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP, TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Prototype driver’s champions (Chevrolet won Prototype manufacturer’s championship)
- Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis, No. 6 Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R, Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge GS driver’s champions (Chevrolet won GS manufacturer’s championship)
- Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, No. 3 Corvette C7.R, winners at Rolex 24 at Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve hours of Sebring
- Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Jordan Taylor, No. 64 Corvette C7.R, winners at 24 Hours of Le Mans
- Johnny O’Connell, No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-V.R, Pirelli World Challenge GT driver’s champion
- Michael Cooper, No. 10 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R, Pirelli World Challenge GTS driver’s champion
- Erica Enders-Stevens, Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, NHRA Pro Stock driver’s champion
- Donny Schatz, No. 15 Bad Boy Buggies/Chevrolet Performance, World of Outlaws champion
- Several drivers, NHRA manufacturer’s champion
- NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series manufacturer’s championships
In addtion, Chevrolet also took time to recognize a couple others who have made an impact on the company’s history.
Andy Pilgrim, who spent 16 years with the company from 1999 through 2015, was awarded a special honor for his contributions across both Corvette Racing (1999 to 2003) and Cadillac Racing (2004 to 2007, 2011 to 2015).
Pilgrim referenced his five months in the buildup to driving with Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 3 Corvette at the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona (Kelly Collins was fourth driver), and Earnhardt hailed Pilgrim’s sports car skills.
“Y’all know who this is?” Earnhardt said of Pilgrim, as Pilgrim told the crowd on Wednesday. “He was my PR agent!”
Pilgrim will not continue with Cadillac Racing in the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge season, but is still seeking to continue within the championship.
Meanwhile at the opposite end of the spectrum, NHRA legend John Force was recognized as he and his John Force Racing team have returned to Chevrolet this season. Force, daughter Brittany Force and Robert Hight were all in attendance.
Truly an honor for our #Chevy family to be a part of the @JFR_Racing family. #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/mAHMS8F779
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
In typically awesome John Force candor, John Force said, “We’re going through a lot of change, but we’re home. I’m home. About the only GM brand I haven’t won a title with is in a Cadillac. My first trophy was won here in a Buick. We love the engineers, everyone working with us. Mr. Jim Campbell puts up with me. I love what I do.
“What was the question again?”
Here’s a roundup of images on social media from Team Chevy from the day.
All these #ChevyChampions under one roof? Be sure to follow along with us for all the festivities this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/Qory0cyh3N
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
And our 2015 #ChevyChampions event kicks off! pic.twitter.com/v0JG4ZXI8R
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
"What we have here is a professional crowd surfer." - Mike Hull, @CGRindycar, about @GanassiChip #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/HpT5gfwrxs
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
The @IndyCar champ goes in for a fist bump! Amazing season, @scottdixon9! #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/DSEKHzocdp
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
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#Indy500 champ @jpmontoya collecting some #ChevyChampions hardware. Great season, JPM! pic.twitter.com/NXR5BkaPAK
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
Michael Cooper from @BlackdogSpeed recognized for his #WCGTS championship season. #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/C1Xe1JsyK4
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
Special year for @NHRA Pro Stock champion @erica_enders! #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/4ua8S4juoP
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
Thanks to all who helped bring the @NHRA Manufacturer Championship back to @chevrolet! #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/kHLjNWVNgg
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
Nobody drove a #Camaro harder this year than #CTSC champs, @andrewdavis59 & @RobinLiddell #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/fMKNwl8Fyh
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
Proud of all the effort and work that went into delivering a #CTSC GS Manufacturer Championship! #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/iM4CKkqpgs
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
All @DonnySchatz did in 2015 was collect 31 wins & another @WorldofOutlaws championship. Amazing! #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/rdigTUQQkE
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
"The No. 5 @AX_Racing #Corvette has completed all but 1 lap in the last 2 years." - @fittitweet #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/9vvHIjnZIV
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
All these gentlemen and more helped deliver another @IMSA Manufacturer Championship and are #ChevyChampions! pic.twitter.com/tqI71Z4RGb
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
Endurance Racing #TripleCrown. True #ChevyChampions. @CorvetteRacing pic.twitter.com/8OOSDtNwc8
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) December 16, 2015
Drivers, team members and teams chimed in too. Here’s some of the highlights:
Great day at GM Heritage Center with GM racing team members! @TeamChevy https://t.co/J6DK6Ws2nM
— Chip Ganassi (@GanassiChip) December 16, 2015
Wow - impressive line-up of @TeamChevy Champions @GM Heritage Center - terrific shared experience in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/CJhEtivxwG
— Mike Hull (@IndyMHull) December 16, 2015
What a cool lineup of drivers joining @jpmontoya at #ChevyChampions event in the Motor City. pic.twitter.com/adUgdVUCPg
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) December 16, 2015
GM's Alan Batey welcomes 2015 Indy 500 winner @jpmontoya to the stage at the #ChevyChampions event. pic.twitter.com/RpeWunr9ex
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) December 16, 2015
.@TeamChevy in Detroit w/ @scottdixon9 @GanassiChip @IndyMHull picking up the @indycar hardware #chevychampions pic.twitter.com/dKt92k3QUN
— CGR IndyCar (@CGRindycar) December 16, 2015
Muchas victorias juntas este año 2015. #Daytona24 #Indy500 #LeMans24 #indycar... #ChevyChampions pic.twitter.com/B5GTTCqolM
— Antonio García (@AntonioGarcia_3) December 16, 2015
What an honor it was to share in all of @teamchevy racing success this year. Congrats to a… https://t.co/lAvBzVOdqb pic.twitter.com/jVd6PB34bU
— Tommy Milner (@TommyMilner) December 16, 2015
Great to be at #ChevyChampions awards lunch. Honoured to pick up this award for our victory @24hoursoflemans 2015. pic.twitter.com/J0SOEQSZUW
— Oliver Gavin (@olivergavin) December 16, 2015
https://www.instagram.com/p/_W8hFDp0_v/
https://www.instagram.com/p/_XKNiRJ03w/
https://www.instagram.com/p/_X-910pxzG/
Thanks @CampbellJim @GMdudeinNA for a great event day here in Detroit at the Champions Event! @TeamChevy pic.twitter.com/zuMRn0DhdN
— Robin Liddell (@RobinLiddell) December 16, 2015
A great honor to be recognized by @GM & @TeamChevy today in Detroit. Thanks to all! @stevensonmotor @PrattMiller pic.twitter.com/iRGah7T1in
— A. Davis (@andrewdavis59) December 16, 2015
Thanks to everyone @PrattMiller @TeamChevy @stevensonmotor for giving me the opportunity to succeed over 5 seasons. pic.twitter.com/cKmcnMUYAp
— A. Davis (@andrewdavis59) December 17, 2015
John Force talking with media at @TeamChevy Champions event at Heritage Center in Detroit pic.twitter.com/BoKha9xzeT
— John Force Racing (@JFR_Racing) December 16, 2015
Great year for @TeamChevy @ChevroletPerf @NHRA Manufacturer Winner and lots of race wins pic.twitter.com/t1hjfd0bPS
— John Force Racing (@JFR_Racing) December 16, 2015
No wonder they don't have any dirt tracks in Detroit, you can't turn left at any major intersection! #uturncity #motorcity
— Donny Schatz (@DonnySchatz) December 16, 2015