Famed nitro racing engine builder Ed Pink, speed record holder Craig Breedlove, publishing magnate Robert E. Petersen, and Indianapolis 500 race car builder and chief mechanic A.J. Watson are the nominees for the 2011 Justice Brothers-Shav Glick Award, which recognizes those who have made distinguished contributions to motorsports in California. Shav Glick was a longtime motorsports writer for the Los Angeles Times and a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame who passed away in 2007. The winner will be announced at the Auto Club 400 NASCAR race March 27, 2011.

Pink, who last week celebrated his 80th birthday, was a premier drag racer and engine builder for more than 50 years. He began racing on the dry lakes of California, then moved to the early dragstrips in the area. He was nicknamed “the Old Master” by his contemporaries because of his incredible knowledge and expertise in building winning race engines. He was famous for building blown fuel race engines during the 1960s and 1970s and built racing engines for USAC Silver Crown entries, sprint cars, and midget racers.

Breedlove was a five-time world land-speed record holder and the first to reach 400, 500, and 600 mph. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2000. Petersen, founder of the Petersen Publishing empire, passed away in 2008. He was responsible for starting Hot Rod, Car Craft, Motor Trend, and many more influential special-interest automotive magazines and books. Watson was a race car builder and chief mechanic at the Indianapolis 500 from 1949 through 1984. His cars won the race seven times, which tied him for the record of most wins by a builder. He was inducted into the National Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1996.