Ladi Filipcic was from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, and drove for the Alfano Brothers Ski Doo team. He drove as a qualifying driver in the I-500 from 1977 until 1979. He drove a Polaris the first year and a Yamaha the next two. During the 1979 race, Ladi was seriously injured and spent over 6 months in a Sault, Ontario hospital. In 1980, he was well–enough to attempt to make a comeback but was denied medical clearance. As a result of his attendance, he was named Parade Marshall and went around the track with the I-500 queen. That summer, Ladi went to a Toronto hospital for corrective surgery and died during the operation. In his memory, the Alfano Brothers Team sponsored an annual trophy that is presented to the team that moves up the furthest in the standings from start to finish. This is a traveling award, presented annually at the Awards Banquet.
 

Recipients of the Ladi Filipcic Award
1981 Dennis Ellis of Ellis Brothers of Trout Lake 39 places
1982 David Bomers of Owosso Implement 40 places
1983 DeWayne Sweezey of Black Road Sound, Sault, Ont 42 places
1984 Allen Decker of Deckers of Marshfield, WI 39 places
1985 Scott Neveau of Team Dobson of Bay City 36 places
1986 Stanley Shunk of Team Chippewa of Sault Ste Marie 25 places
1987 John Wicht of WWW Racing of Rogers, MN 28 places
1988 Jim Crawford of Team Chippewa of Sault Ste Marie 16 places
1989 David Parks of C & C Racing of Grand Rapids 21 places
1990 George Sharrard of Team Canada of Sault, Ont 28 places
1991 David Parks of C & C Racing of Grand Rapids 23 places
1992 John Wicht of WWW Racing of Rogers, MN 29 places
1993 Steve Maki of Team Picklemanns of Newberry 32 places
1994 John Wicht of WWW Racing of Rogers, MN 34 places
1995 John Wicht of WWW Racing of Rogers, MN 43 places
1996 Jeff Wilcox of Clark Racing of Strongs 29 places
1997 Allan Haynes of Team Budweiser of Mount Pleasant 30 places
1998 Mike Robbins of Team Robbins of Petoskey 22 places
1999 Tom Bosek of Bosek Racing of Alexandria, MN 46 places
2000 Chris Furkey of RPM Sports of Sault, Ont 27 places
2001 Terry Wright of Team Chippewa of Sault Ste Marie 27 places
2002 Steve Edwards of Team Edwards of Engadine 35 places
2003 Corey Davidson of Team Pro-5 Stihl of Newfolden, MN 32 places
2004 Chad Gueco of Team Eagle River of Eagle River, AK 35 places
2005 Mike Gentz of Team Gentz of Marquette 28 places
2006 #26 Michael Haynes of Postula/Maciag Racing of Mt Pleasant 23 places