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Who will win top awards this week at the Houston Auto Show?

Courtesy photo.


Courtesy photo.

Mike Herzing is one of three founders of The Texas Motor Press Association.

One of the most anticipated events at the Houston Auto Show: the presentation of the Texas Truck, Car, SUV and CUV of the Year awards. This the "Texas Academy Awards" for the automotive industry, with four winners: Texas Car of the Year, Texas Truck of the Year, Texas SUV of the Year and the Texas Crossover of the Year. Presented by the Texas Motor Press Association, the winners are selected by an elite group of Texas Automotive Journalists.

Seeing a need to support automotive journalists in Texas, The Texas Motor Press Association (TxMPA) is the brainchild of Award-Winning Journalists Michael Herzing, Eileen Falkenberg-Hull and Alan Gell, who formed the organization on behalf of journalists. The organization hosts educational and networking events throughout the year to help members create meaningful, insightful, and informed content that influences the public's buying decisions, appeals to enthusiast interests, and registers with a Texas-based audience and beyond.

TxMPA, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization for automotive industry professionals, has quickly gained the support of some of the industry's foremost automotive journalists, including those from top outlets such Roadshow by CNET, The Drive, SB Nation Radio, American City Business Journals, AutoGuide, Alex on Autos, and Autobytel/Autoweb gained membership. In addition to notable nationwide outlets, TxMPA has members from Texas, the country's largest truck market, including personnel from TxGarage, Outdoor4X magazine, Let's Talk Wheels, iHeartVehicles, KCBQ AM, CarProUSA, and Estate Life Magazines.

Each spring the organization hosts the Texas Off-Road Invitational, an off-roading event where members test drive vehicles in challenging off-road conditions, interview vehicle engineers and product planners, and take a deep dive into the mechanics and design of the vehicles. ATVs and UTVs are welcome at this event. At the end of the Invitational, voting members register their votes for Texas Off-Road Truck of the Year, Texas Off-Road SUV of the Year, Texas Off-Road ATV of the Year, and Texas Off-Road UTV of the Year. The winners are announced that day.

In the late autumn, TxMPA hosts TxTalks, a day of Ted Talk-like speeches and interviews exclusively for members that allows attendees to expand their knowledge in a variety of automotive and professional development topics.

The TxMPA is led by President Michael Herzing, Vice President Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, and a Board of Directors consisting of Alan Gell, Bill Owney, Michael Garfield, and Greg Riley.

Anyone interested in TxMPA membership as an industry, journalist, influencer, or sponsor is encouraged to go to: https://texasmotorpress.com

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The Astros beat the Cardinals, 2-0. Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images.

Jake Meyers had three hits and drove in a run, Hunter Brown threw six shutout innings, to lead the Houston Astros to a 2-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Yordan Alverez hit a leadoff homer in the eighth off reliever Kyle Leahy.

Brown (2-1), making his first career appearance against the Cardinals, allowed four hits in pitching his fourth quality start of the season. He struck out four and walked two.

Josh Hader pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his fourth save.

Cardinals starter Erick Fedde (1-2) gave up six hits and three walks in six innings while striking out five. It was his third quality start in four outings this season.

Meyers, who entered the game hitless in his previous nine at-bats, gave Houston the lead in the sixth inning.

Jeremy Peña led off with a double to left. With one out, Meyers hit a single to right that landed just in front of a diving Jordan Walker. Peña never hesitated as he rounded third and slid home to beat the throw. Fedde got of out of the inning when he snagged a line drive from Cam Smith that hit his glove and popped up and back in before he threw to first to double up Peña.

Key moment

With the bases loaded and two outs, Fedde escaped when Jose Altuve flew out to center field to end the fourth inning. In the second inning with the bases full, Fedde escaped on a flyball to right field by Mauricio Dubón.

Key stat

Brendan Donovan doubled in the fourth inning to extend his major league-best hitting streak to 11 games. He is leading the National League in hitting at .382.

Up next

Astros RHP Ronel Blanco (1-1, 6.94) faces off against Cardinals LHP Steven Matz (0-0, 1.93) in the final game of the series on Wednesday.

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