The JMMF/Auto-Racing Scholarship was established last year by the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation as part of the Murray Scholar program recognizing excellence in sports journalism. The Auto-Racing focused scholarship was launched in 2013 and funded by Mario Andretti, Dan & Evi Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Danny Sullivan, All American Racers, Inc., Steve Earwood, president of Rockingham Dragway, Dan Luginbuhl, retired Penske Corp VP of Communication, Greg Penske, and Gillian Zucker, president of Auto Club Speedway.
This year the $5000 scholarship goes to Michael Shaw at the University of Missouri. Michael is the University of Missouri's 5th Murray Scholar. The scholarship will help with Mike’s tuition at the University of Missouri, which may be the oldest formal journalism school in the world. Mike, from Fenton, Missouri, is no stranger to auto racing. The State of Missouri has a plethora of racing venues, including the current half-mile Missouri State Fair Speedway oval in Sedalia, built in 1936, holding car racing from 1949 until 1985, and since 1989. Hot Rod Hotline interviewed Mike about the scholarship.
Q: What got you started in sports reporting?
A: I first grew interested in sports writing as a child reading my Sports Illustrated subscription cover-to-cover, saving Rick Reilly's column for last. I wrote sports stories for my high school paper and the Jefferson County (Mo.) News-Leader, but really tested myself as a reporter on the Columbia Missourian's sports staff.
Q:What will the scholarship allow you to do that you couldn't do before?
A: The scholarship will allow me to focus full-time on my position as the Missourian's Mizzou football beat writer and help pay for my housing directly south of Missouri's Faurot Field.
Q: Why did you go into journalism?
A: I initially entered journalism because I wanted to attend Mizzou and it has such a prestigious journalism school. I grew to love it as I tried my hand at various newspapers and realized I could put my passions for writing and sports to communicate tell stories and figure out greater truths. Finding that next great story keeps me going.
Q: What are some of your favorite pieces of sports journalism?
A: Wow! I'll try to keep this one short – "Remember His Name" by Gary Smith on former Arizona Cardinal and U.S. Army serviceman Pat Tillman, "Why You Should Care About Cricket" by Wright Thompson, "Strongest Dad In The World" by Rick Reilly and "Punched Out" by John Branch.
Q: Have you been following any racing, and if so, what? As a young journalist, how do you see the future of racing?
A: I try to follow some racing – covering Mizzou, unfortunately, doesn't allow me a lot of time to watch other sports on the weekends. I am from the same town as Ken Schrader and the Wallace family, so NASCAR events can usually be found at the local Applebee's. As a kid, I always loved racing Go-Karts and have dreamed of doing a lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I think many Americans see that same thrill in racing, and with the sport being especially popular in Europe, it should be an exciting time for the sport.