By Mark Billingsley, Sacramento Bee

When Bill Sullivan learned he was nominated for National Media Member of the Year by the North American 360 Sprint Car Poll, his first thought was of his father, Gerry, who passed away in 2006.

Sullivan is the track announcer at Placerville Speedway and works in the press shop for Handy Racing Promotions and the San Francisco-based Golden Gate Racing Team, which is affiliated with Richard Childress Racing.

“My dad was my big influence with the whole sport because he was such a huge fan from when I was very little until his final days four years ago,” said Sullivan, who will learn in January if he won the award at the annual Chili Bowl Race in Tulsa, Okla. “He was super busy managing the grocery store (Lucky on Broadway in Placerville), but on Saturday nights that was always our thing.”

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