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Entering what's likely his final year as track promoter, Hall of Famer Joe Kosiski on Monday was announced as the 46th Auto Racing Promoter of the Year in balloting by Racing Promotion Monthly. The award was presented to the co-owner of I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., during the RPM promoting workshop at Daytona Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The 64-year-old Kosiski, whose family has owned and operated the track for 19 years but recently announced plans to sell the property, was ARPY's biggest winner on a day when Dirt Late Model promoters and tracks were in the spotlight.

Kosiski's promotional successes include the lucrative Silver Dollar Nationals along with two regional tours for Late Models, the sister Malvern Bank Series and Hoker Trucking Series.

In a recent interview with DirtonDirt.com, Kosiski attributed his success in part to his family's business success with Kosiski Auto Parts in the way they operated the racetrack.

“We’ve always been into business and we understand it. I don’t want to say it meanly, but most promoters are in love with racing, not in love with business, and you have to be in love with business to put on a show to be a promoter," he said. "You have to hit a bottom line, you have to make sure everything you’ve got going is gonna have a bottom line, and you gotta push it to make it work — not just be in love with the word ‘racing’ and want to buy (the track) for a place to practice your race car.”

Among other ARPY awards, the Outstanding Event of the Year was the USA Nationals, the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series annual event at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., promoted by the Kaufman family.

Four other RPM Regional Promoter of the Year awards also went to Dirt Late Model-centric tracks including Steve O'Neal of Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway, who was also a regional honoree last year.

Among other regional winners: Matt Curl of Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway; Scott Childress of Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., and Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway; and Chris Stepan of Vado (N.M.) Speedway Park. — Kelley Carlton