Um, not meaning to be disrespectful or anything but winning first place in a race with no competition is not that big of an accomplishment.
According to imdb Emmy Award lists for 1998, there were no other nominees in the category, on top of that it wasn't even nominated in any of the other animation or children show categories.
Reading the records seams to indicate it was a publicity stunt, a political decision designed to generate more interest in the field not necessarily in the show itself.