THIS AWARD WAS PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1978, THE PAT O'CONNOR & BRIAN CLAUSON AWARD HAS BECOME THE MOST REVERED OF ALL THE PRESENTATIONS MADE BY HARF. THIS AWARD IS MADE ONLY IN YEARS WHEN THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF HARF OFFICERS FEEL THERE IS A MIDWEST DRIVER WHO LIVES UP TO THE SPIRIT AND IDEAS ON WHICH THIS AWARD IS BASED. WHEN THE CRITERIA FOR THIS AWARD WERE BEING FORMED, WE SAID WE WOULD LOOK FOR SUCH THINGS AS DEVOTION, COOPERATION, AND CONSTANT EFFORT TO MAKE AUTO RACING THE SPORT OF WHICH WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD. IN ADDITION WE WILL LOOK A PERSON WHOSE CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS; FELLOW COMPETITORS, RACE OFFICIALS, RACE FANS, AND ALL OTHERS CONNECTED WITH THE SPORT, MAKE THEM SO OUTSTANDING WE RECOGNIZE THE QUALITY IN A PERSON THAT MAKES THEM ELIGIBLE FOR THIS HONOR.