Matt Hazlett | Getty Images

Roger Penske receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

By
Staff Report NASCAR.com October 24, 2019 at 7:34 PM


NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Roger Penske received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, from United States President Donald Trump on Oct. 24 at The White House.

Team Penske, Penske’s motorsports team across various series, has won more than 530 races and 35 championships in its 53-year history. In NASCAR, Penske teams have won 120 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.

Penske becomes the second person in the motorsports industry to earn the honor. NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time champion Richard Petty received the honor from President George H.W. Bush in 1992.

RELATED: Logano, No. 22 team honored in D.C. | All of Team Penske’s Cup wins

When President Trump announced the honor in July, Penske said: “It is truly an honor to be recognized by President Trump and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I am humbled by the President’s acknowledgement of our achievements in business, in motorsports and in our community. Thank you to President Trump for this special recognition. On behalf of my wife Kathy (Penske), our family and our nearly 65,000 team members worldwide, it will be my privilege to accept this prestigious award.”

One of Team Penske’s championships was earned by Joey Logano last year in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Logano, Penske and the No. 22 team were honored at The White House earlier this year.

“What an amazing honor for him,” Logano said earlier this year at Sonoma. “You think about what Roger has been able to accomplish as an American and as a business owner and motorsports tycoon. The guy is amazing with what he has done. Indy 500 wins, championships, all racing different types of series’ across the world. To me that is incredible.

“The selflessness that he shows, which honestly doesn’t show but he is with the way he supports charitable initiatives and does it quietly. I think that says a lot about a person. I think it is much deserved. I am excited for him. You think of some of the awards he has won lately with the Hall of Fame and now this, it is something he should be very proud of. I am honored to know the guy. It is incredible to work for him.”

The White House statement on the presentation of the award read: “Roger S. Penske is a well-known American success story. Guided by his father’s favorite phrase, ‘effort equals results,’ Mr. Penske built his one car dealership into Penske Corporation, a leader in global transportation services. On the track, Mr. Penske built and led Team Penske into the most successful motorsports team in history. Mr. Penske’s passion and unrelenting drive have established him as a business and motorsports icon.”