New York highs and Lowe's
Ryan McGee / FOXSports.com
NEW YORK - When NASCAR first came to the Waldorf-Astoria at the close of the 1981 season, it slipped in and out the Big Apple like any other convention or business meeting. These days, it rolls through Gotham with a window-rattling clap of thunder... literally. Just ask anyone in Times Square on Wednesday morning when 10 358 cubic-inch monsters came roaring through.
For a solid week, Jimmie Johnson was hauled from one end of the island to the other, seven days of tireless congratulations that culminated with the NASCAR Nextel Cup Awards Banquet on Friday night. What were the best, worst and simply worthless moments of Jimmie's big week out? You only needed to ask...
Best Banquet Speech: Mark Martin has admittedly never been an outstanding public speaker, but what was likely his 16th and final turn at the banquet podium was graceful, heartfelt and way funnier than Jay Mohr. When he addressed Jack Roush personally and reminded current Roush Racing employees to always respect what he helped to build, it was a truly genuine moment.
Worst Banquet Speech: Yeah, yeah, we get it Tony... you didn't want to be there.
Most Deserved Award: On Thursday, 1973 Winston Cup champ and NBC/TNT analyst Benny Parsons received the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the sports of stock car racing. BP will go down as one of the greatest ambassadors in the history of his sport, from his days as a humble champ to three decades of bringing racing into the living rooms of America.
Most Uncomfortable Scene, Part 1: When Kyle Busch thanked his girlfriend Eva... then remembered that her name is Erica.
Most Uncomfortable Scene, Part 2: Watching Kyle try to recover.
Jay Mohr's Best Line: Pointing out that everyone around NASCAR president Mike Helton was afraid to laugh until they made sure Helton was laughing.
Jay Mohr's Best Line, Part 2: "I don't blame Jeff Gordon for being happy. If you can get a woman like Ingrid not to wear high heels for the rest of her life, you'd be happy, too."
Jay Mohr's Worst Line: The entire rest of the opening monologue.
Best New York Cabbie Moment: After being stopped by police on 7th Avenue to make room for Wednesday's "Victory Lap" stock car procession around Times Square, a cabbie shouted to the NYPD, "Hey, can my fare get in the Budweiser car so he can make his meeting on time?"
Most Uncomfortable Scene, Part 3: When Jeff Johnson, Jimmie Johnson's engine builder, walked onto the stage to take his seat at the head table, he looked like he was being marched to take his seat in the electric chair.
Best Celebrity Shout-out: Jeff Gordon was strolling through Central Park and heard someone shout his name from a passing car. The fan? Filmmaker and Knicks uber-fan Spike Lee.
But Wait There's More...: You think Friday night's banquet was too long? Just imagine if they gave out all of the awards at the big show. No less than 20 additional awards were given out at Thursday afternoon's Myers Brothers lunch, including a surprise Corvette convertible from Chevrolet to Johnson's wife, Chandra.
Most Uncomfortable Scene, Part 4: Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a suit and tie. Dude spent all week looking like someone was slowing choking off his oxygen supply.
Fish Out Of Water Award: Melissa Rivers doing interviews on the red carpet outside the Waldorf. Two years ago, I spotted her mom, Joan, in Times Square interviewing the Naked Cowboy. This was weirder.
Guys You'd Most Want To Hang Out With: The nine NASCAR regional and local racing series rolled into town on Wednesday for a photo op with Jimmie Johnson and fellow national champs Kevin Harvick (Busch Series) and Todd Bodine (Craftsman Trucks). No drivers enjoyed themselves more than these guys, who spend their Friday and Saturday nights racing in front of a few thousand fans at tracks you've heard of. I hear they may have consumed a beer or two while in the big city.
Guy You'd Least Like To Hang Out With: Carl Edwards. He was in New York to support teammates Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth and make a few media appearances, and he handled it all with his usual class. But the preseason favorite, who finished 12th in points with no wins, was visibly uncomfortable being on the outside looking in.
Coming To America: It's impossible not to think of Eddie Murphy's classic film when you watch Jimmie Johnson's championship entourage blow in and out of the Waldorf. A giant NASCAR flag flies from the front of the hotel, a spot normally reserved for the national colors of visiting dignitaries, and the NASCAR limo flags flying from the front fenders of Johnson's motorcade makes him look like the King of Zamunda. All he needed was the big guy announcing his name every time he entered a room and the girls spreading rose petals all over the ground.
Some say that Champions Week should be moved from New York. NASCAR chairman Brian France admits that other cities have expressed interest and there are plenty of people in the racing community who have openly suggested that the awards banquet should move home to Charlotte.
Me? I say keep it right here in the Big Apple. Where else can you see Diane Sawyer, Regis Philbin and Tony Eury Jr. all in the same place at the same time? To deny the world such a strange, beautiful opportunity would be unforgivable.
See you next December.
Ryan McGee / FOXSports.com
NEW YORK - When NASCAR first came to the Waldorf-Astoria at the close of the 1981 season, it slipped in and out the Big Apple like any other convention or business meeting. These days, it rolls through Gotham with a window-rattling clap of thunder... literally. Just ask anyone in Times Square on Wednesday morning when 10 358 cubic-inch monsters came roaring through.
For a solid week, Jimmie Johnson was hauled from one end of the island to the other, seven days of tireless congratulations that culminated with the NASCAR Nextel Cup Awards Banquet on Friday night. What were the best, worst and simply worthless moments of Jimmie's big week out? You only needed to ask...
Best Banquet Speech: Mark Martin has admittedly never been an outstanding public speaker, but what was likely his 16th and final turn at the banquet podium was graceful, heartfelt and way funnier than Jay Mohr. When he addressed Jack Roush personally and reminded current Roush Racing employees to always respect what he helped to build, it was a truly genuine moment.
Worst Banquet Speech: Yeah, yeah, we get it Tony... you didn't want to be there.
Most Deserved Award: On Thursday, 1973 Winston Cup champ and NBC/TNT analyst Benny Parsons received the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the sports of stock car racing. BP will go down as one of the greatest ambassadors in the history of his sport, from his days as a humble champ to three decades of bringing racing into the living rooms of America.
Most Uncomfortable Scene, Part 1: When Kyle Busch thanked his girlfriend Eva... then remembered that her name is Erica.
Most Uncomfortable Scene, Part 2: Watching Kyle try to recover.
Jay Mohr's Best Line: Pointing out that everyone around NASCAR president Mike Helton was afraid to laugh until they made sure Helton was laughing.
Jay Mohr's Best Line, Part 2: "I don't blame Jeff Gordon for being happy. If you can get a woman like Ingrid not to wear high heels for the rest of her life, you'd be happy, too."
Jay Mohr's Worst Line: The entire rest of the opening monologue.
Best New York Cabbie Moment: After being stopped by police on 7th Avenue to make room for Wednesday's "Victory Lap" stock car procession around Times Square, a cabbie shouted to the NYPD, "Hey, can my fare get in the Budweiser car so he can make his meeting on time?"
Most Uncomfortable Scene, Part 3: When Jeff Johnson, Jimmie Johnson's engine builder, walked onto the stage to take his seat at the head table, he looked like he was being marched to take his seat in the electric chair.
Best Celebrity Shout-out: Jeff Gordon was strolling through Central Park and heard someone shout his name from a passing car. The fan? Filmmaker and Knicks uber-fan Spike Lee.
But Wait There's More...: You think Friday night's banquet was too long? Just imagine if they gave out all of the awards at the big show. No less than 20 additional awards were given out at Thursday afternoon's Myers Brothers lunch, including a surprise Corvette convertible from Chevrolet to Johnson's wife, Chandra.
Most Uncomfortable Scene, Part 4: Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a suit and tie. Dude spent all week looking like someone was slowing choking off his oxygen supply.
Fish Out Of Water Award: Melissa Rivers doing interviews on the red carpet outside the Waldorf. Two years ago, I spotted her mom, Joan, in Times Square interviewing the Naked Cowboy. This was weirder.
Guys You'd Most Want To Hang Out With: The nine NASCAR regional and local racing series rolled into town on Wednesday for a photo op with Jimmie Johnson and fellow national champs Kevin Harvick (Busch Series) and Todd Bodine (Craftsman Trucks). No drivers enjoyed themselves more than these guys, who spend their Friday and Saturday nights racing in front of a few thousand fans at tracks you've heard of. I hear they may have consumed a beer or two while in the big city.
Guy You'd Least Like To Hang Out With: Carl Edwards. He was in New York to support teammates Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth and make a few media appearances, and he handled it all with his usual class. But the preseason favorite, who finished 12th in points with no wins, was visibly uncomfortable being on the outside looking in.
Coming To America: It's impossible not to think of Eddie Murphy's classic film when you watch Jimmie Johnson's championship entourage blow in and out of the Waldorf. A giant NASCAR flag flies from the front of the hotel, a spot normally reserved for the national colors of visiting dignitaries, and the NASCAR limo flags flying from the front fenders of Johnson's motorcade makes him look like the King of Zamunda. All he needed was the big guy announcing his name every time he entered a room and the girls spreading rose petals all over the ground.
Some say that Champions Week should be moved from New York. NASCAR chairman Brian France admits that other cities have expressed interest and there are plenty of people in the racing community who have openly suggested that the awards banquet should move home to Charlotte.
Me? I say keep it right here in the Big Apple. Where else can you see Diane Sawyer, Regis Philbin and Tony Eury Jr. all in the same place at the same time? To deny the world such a strange, beautiful opportunity would be unforgivable.
See you next December.