TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Kansas African-American Affairs Commission and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius awarded Kansas Speedway on Thursday with its Distinguished Service Award.

Kansas Speedway was recognized for its contributions to minority business development in the state and its community involvement.

"I'm proud that Kansas Speedway continues to be a corporate model for other companies to follow," speedway President Jeff Boerger said. "We'll continue to work hard to increase our participation with minority-owned businesses throughout Kansas because we are committed to equal economic opportunities for everyone."

Over the past four years, Kansas Speedway has steered more than $6 million to minority businesses in the Kansas City area. During the construction phase alone, Kansas Speedway paid out more than $44 million to local minority-owned businesses involved in the construction of the track.

When Kansas Speedway was built, track leaders vowed to steer at least 18 percent of its business to minority-owned companies. Track leadership also vowed to meet operational spending goals with minority-owned businesses in the areas of professional services, goods and supplies and other services on a day-to-day basis.

Every year since 2001, Kansas Speedway has not only met those goals, it has exceeded them - most of them by more than double.

The track's minority business efforts have also been recognized by the Minority Supplier Council over the past two years. The track was recently named Corporation of the Year, and last year Boerger was named CEO Advocate of the Year.

Kansas Speedway was recognized during the state's celebration of Black History Month at the Capitol.

The Kansas African-American Affairs Commission is a seven-member body appointed by the leaders of Kansas' Legislature. The KAAAC addresses public policy concerns of African-Americans through its partnerships with state agencies, corporations and foundations, focusing on education, employment, health, business development and social services.