A Rocky Mount native has been honored for a feature he produced for SPEED, an motorsports-oriented TV network based in Charlotte.

Justin Burnett received the 2012 Russ Catlin Award for a Veteran’s Day 2011 feature that aired as part of the program “NASCAR Race Hub,” a release says.

“For me, this piece crystallizes everything that makes racing, and sports in general, great,” Burnett is quoted as saying in the release. “Far away from the bright spotlight of a NASCAR race weekend, Accessible Racing is using their passion for racing as a vehicle for inspiration and change. I felt that the sincerity and resolve of the veterans, particularly 1st Lt. Ian James Brown, would likewise inspire viewers and the judges.”

Accessible Racing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group, modifies NASCAR-style racing cars so that they can be driven with hand controls by disabled people.

Burnett’s segment earned high praise from the judging panel from the Indiana University School of Journalism.

“A timely feature that demonstrates racing’s contributions beyond the track; this story’s effectiveness lies in its use of multiple sources and themes,” the panel’s comment say. “It addresses a serious social issue with an updated approach and shows how racing can benefit society. This story meets all technical requirements while telling an inspiring story.”

The feature is online at http://bit.ly/AtQ0Eu .

Burnett is an associate producer with SPEED, where he has worked for almost two years.

The son of Rose and Craig Burnett of Rocky Mount, he is a 2002 graduate of Southern Nash High School and a 2006 of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Burnett’s honor is part of the Taxslayer.com Motorsports Journalism Awards and was presented by the Charlotte Motor Speedway.