MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Ashly Ennis, Hendrick Motorsports’ director of racing communications, was named the recipient of the inaugural Jon Edwards Excellence in Public Relations Award, NASCAR announced Wednesday evening.
The award honors the legacy of Edwards, a longtime and highly respected public relations representative who passed away unexpectedly in April 2025. Edwards worked with four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon and two-time champion Kyle Larson, both at Hendrick Motorsports, establishing a legacy of integrity, mentorship and passion for both NASCAR and his job, leaving a lasting impact on the sport’s communications community.
Ennis was honored with the award in a celebration in Mooresville, North Carolina, for her exceptional work during the 2025 season, during which she served as the communications representative for William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet and two-time DAYTONA 500 champion. In eight seasons with Hendrick Motorsports, Ennis has established a reputation as a respected leader throughout the NASCAR garage, collaborating often and impactfully with media members and fellow public relations representatives to heighten awareness of Byron, Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 24 team.
“Honestly, I’m a little bit in disbelief,” Ennis told NASCAR.com, “simply because there are so many people in this room who have contributed to my career — Jon by far the most. But there are so many people who have been in this sport longer than me, who worked with Jon before me that also contributed to my career. So, it’s a little bit of disbelief, but honestly, I’m just honored.”
Members of Edwards’ family were on hand Wednesday night to deliver the trophy to Ennis. Helping present Ennis the award was Gordon, with whom Edwards worked since 1994, one year into Gordon’s illustrious career that led him into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. In Gordon’s eyes, Ennis was the perfect person to receive the inaugural award named in memory of his friend Edwards.
“You’re amazing at what you do. I did not know this is happening, but I’m so proud, so happy,” Gordon said. “There’s very deserving people in this room, but I don’t know if there’s any more deserving right now at this moment than you. You’ve earned it. You deserve it, so congratulations.”
Ennis, who joined Hendrick Motorsports in November 2018, is an Ohio native who earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Georgia Southern University.
The award was created to acknowledge individuals who embody Edwards’ commitment to excellence, service and character both on and off the track, NASCAR said in a release. Ennis worked closely with Edwards at Hendrick Motorsports. His impact and approach to the job, Ennis said, still resonates today with her and countless other public relations professionals throughout the sport.
“There’s moments where I feel bad for the people who are going to be coming up through the ranks that will never know Jon on a personal level,” Ennis said. “And I hate that, because I feel like everyone should know Jon. But I just feel like it shows the level that we should strive for, and we should also go learn to make it in our own way.
“There is no textbook, cut-and-dry ‘This is how the role is.’ And I say that even with training people. You can’t sit there and be like, ‘This is how the role is done,’ because it changes, and it changes every moment, every situation. But the gold standard is Jon. And I just feel like if everyone strives to be close to that, it just makes our sport a little better.”