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 Aug. 29 at the age of 79...

The media center at NHRA's Gainesville Raceway, where Froscher tirelessly worked to cover nearly every edition of the 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."

Froscher began his professional career as a newspaper sports writer upon graduation from the University of Florida in 1953 and earned numerous awards, including the NHRA Media Award in 1975. He's a past winner of 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 both auto racing and thoroughbred horse racing reporting. In 2003, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award by 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.