» Racing » NASCAR Wraps Up Famed Championship Week in the Big Apple With Awards Ceremony Honoring Jimmie Johnson
NASCAR Wraps Up Famed Championship Week in the Big Apple With Awards Ceremony Honoring Jimmie Johnson
Story by: Richard thomas
Posted May 27, 2007
Photos by: Sol tucker
New York , NY--
Year after year when the Championship Week begins in New York it is always a great time to look back and see some of what has made the season so successful, this season it was the chance to reflect on Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet team's third connsecutive championship.
After several days of photo shoots Thursday was the chance to see all of the drivers have a to be acknowledged for their accomplishments at the annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon at Cipriani in New York.
Johnson picked up five awards and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team received three other awards.
"Today was an opportunity to reflect back on all of the hard work and effort put in by everyone at the race shop," Johnson said. "The emotions kind of go over the top when you take a moment and realize just how special each of these individuals have been in sharing in the success we've had the past three seasons."
Despite all of the awards that took place today and those taking place tomorrow night at the annual Champions Banquet it just seems that the NASCAR presence is a little different this year with all of the tough economic times taking place. So what was the major difference that fans did not have the chance to see? The victory lap around the city was the most notable and the parties that did not take place usually put on by the major manufacturers, Ford and Chevy. At the banquet there are expected to be at least 150 less guests than usual, most sponsors.
Even owners like Rick Hendrick are feeling the crunch as he calls this the worst he has seen in 30 years, most notably in the auto business where a bulk of his money comes from.
Hendrick considered cutting back the number of people he typically brings to the banquet, but opted to move forward as planned because "these guys earned it" after helping Johnson become the second driver in the history of the sport to win three straight titles.
"No doubt about it," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said when asked whether NASCAR made a conscious effort to trim costs.
While NASCAR did cut some corners for this year, they still provided a fan friendly environment with the free AFLAC fan fest and which included racing simulators, demos and some sponsors handing out pieces of swag for the fans, namely Spring and AFLAC. The evening culminated with an acoustic performance by Gavin De Graw at the Hard Rock live which also featured a few of the members from the Carl Edwards owned label, Back 40.
"It's very expensive in New York," Hunter said. "I'm sure we'll look at it after this banquet."