Norm Froscher, a longtime friend and supporter of NHRA Drag Racing who worked for several Florida newspapers, including the Gainesville Sun, and later as a freelance writer, died July 29. He was 79. The media center at NHRA's Gainesville Raceway, where Froscher tirelessly worked to cover nearly every edition of the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals, is named in his honor.
“Everyone at NHRA is saddened by today’s news of the passing of Norm Froscher,” said Jerry Archambeault, NHRA vice president of communications and public relations. “Norm was a constant fixture at Gainesville Raceway, treating the facility as though it was his second home. He was not just a reporter but a friend to every racer that went down the dragstrip and everyone at NHRA. We will miss him, but his spirit will always be with us.”
Legendary racer Don "the Snake" Prudhomme, a five-time Gatornationals champ, added, "I am really sorry to hear about Norm. We became good friends through the years, and I always looked forward to seeing him each year in Gainesville. As far as I am concerned, he had a great deal to do with helping my career and the growth of drag racing from his articles about everything from race results to unique feature stories. I will always picture him in my mind walking around chewing on a cigar. He is just one guy that I always enjoyed speaking with. He always had some great questions, and I enjoyed answering them. I am going to miss him."
Froscher began his professional career as a newspaper sportswriter upon graduation from the University of Florida in 1953 and earned numerous awards, including the NHRA Media Award in 1975. He received the Ray Marquette Memorial Award and the Bloys Britt Memorial Writing Award for motorsports writing excellence and won awards at annual national press competitions for auto racing and thoroughbred horse racing reporting. In 2003, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Driver of the Year Foundation, joining Chris Economaki as the only two racing journalists to be so honored.
Froscher was a past president of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association and the Florida Sports Writers Association.
Services for Froscher will be held at the Forest Meadows Funeral Home on 23rd Avenue in Gainesville (352-378-2528). A viewing will be Sunday, from 4 to 6 p.m. with a service on Monday at 10 a.m. in the chapel at Forest Meadows on 39th Avenue.