NEW YORK -- On the eve of the Nextel Cup Series Awards Ceremony, more than $1 million in special awards were presented Thursday at the NASCAR/National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers luncheon.
Headlining the list of award winners was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the Chex Cereals Most Popular Driver Award for the fourth consecutive year, and 2006 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Denny Hamlin, who finished third in the Chase and received $50,000 as the series' top rookie racer.
Chevrolet received the Nextel Cup Series Manufacturers' Championship for the 30th time. Chevrolet teams won 23 races in 2006, while seven of the 10 Chase drivers drove Chevys.
During the presentation, Chevrolet made a surprise presentation of its own -- giving a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette convertible to series champion Jimmie Johnson's wife, Chani.
Other special award winners included:
• NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter, who was honored with the Buddy Shuman Award, in recognition of his longtime role and impact in the NASCAR community.
• Benny Parsons, the 1973 Cup Series champion and NBC/TNT television commentator, who was honored with the Myers Brothers Award, for his contributions to the growth of Cup racing.
• Tony Stewart received three different awards for his on-track performance -- the $135,000 Bank of America Card Services Mid-Race Leader Award; the $100,000 USG Improving the Finish Award and the $75,000 Wix Lap Leader Award.
• Kasey Kahne received $100,000 for winning the Budweiser Pole Award and $101,000 for winning the Commit Lozenges Commit to Win Award. Kahne won six pole positions in 2006.
• Mike Ford, crew chief for Denny Hamlin, won the $102,400 DirecTV Crew Chief of the Year Award.
• Matt Kenseth won the $75,000 Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award.
RED CARPET AUCTION
The NASCAR Foundation will have a Red Carpet Online Charity Auction for fans to bid on clothing and accessories worn by NASCAR celebrities at the Nextel Cup Series Awards Banquet in New York.
The auction will go live during the banquet on Dec. 1 -- so check back for more info.
• The No. 31 Chevrolet team of Jeff Burton received the $75,000 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award.
• Kevin Harvick received the $100,000 Mobil 1 Command Performance Award.
• Allstate, the Official Insurance Partner of NASCAR, was presented with the Marketing Achievement Award.
The No. 48 Chevrolet team takes top honors on Friday evening, but also received several awards on Thursday:
• Jimmie Johnson won the $105,000 Checker's/Rally's Double-Drive Thru Pit Award, the Goodyear Award -- including a scale replica of his No. 48 Chevrolet made from gold -- and the $75,000 Sunoco Diamond Performance Award.
• The Hendrick Motorsports engine department won the $107,000 Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award.
• Crew chief Chad Knaus was recognized with the Nextel Cup Series Championship Crew Chief Award.
Jimmie Johnson Nextel Cup
Kevin Harvick Busch
Todd Bodine Craftsman Truck
Eric Holmes AutoZone West
Mike Olsen Busch East
Mike Stefanik Whelen Modified
Junior Miller Whelen Southern Modified
Tim Schendel AutoZone Elite Midwest
Gary Lewis AutoZone Elite Northwest
J.R. Norris AutoZone Elite Southeast
Rip Michels AutoZone Elite Southwest
Philip Morris Dodge Weekly
Champions gather at Rockefeller Plaza
An annual Champions Week tradition is the gathering of champions from all of NASCAR's national, regional and local racing series, for a commemorative photo opportunity. It is the only time during the year that all of NASCAR's champions from 12 different racing series are together in one location. Since 2002, this exclusive gathering has been held in New York as part of Champions Week.
On Thursday, the group -- including Johnson, Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick and Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine, assembled at Rockefeller Plaza, near the city's famous Christmas Tree, for their photo.
One day and counting
Champions Week concludes Friday with a final day of activities for Jimmie Johnson, the rest of the Nextel Cup Top 10 drivers and 11th-place driver Tony Stewart. Johnson and his team will pose for photos along Park Avenue in Manhattan, before attending several pre-Awards Ceremony receptions.
The Awards Ceremony begins at 7 p.m. ET in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel's Grand Ballroom. At 6 p.m. ET, SPEED will air a special one hour pre-show: NASCAR Takes Manhattan.
TNT will televise the Awards Ceremony beginning at 9 p.m. ET, featuring musical entertainment by singer/songwriter Jewel and comedy performances by Jay Mohr.
Headlining the list of award winners was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the Chex Cereals Most Popular Driver Award for the fourth consecutive year, and 2006 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Denny Hamlin, who finished third in the Chase and received $50,000 as the series' top rookie racer.
Chevrolet received the Nextel Cup Series Manufacturers' Championship for the 30th time. Chevrolet teams won 23 races in 2006, while seven of the 10 Chase drivers drove Chevys.
During the presentation, Chevrolet made a surprise presentation of its own -- giving a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette convertible to series champion Jimmie Johnson's wife, Chani.
Other special award winners included:
• NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter, who was honored with the Buddy Shuman Award, in recognition of his longtime role and impact in the NASCAR community.
• Benny Parsons, the 1973 Cup Series champion and NBC/TNT television commentator, who was honored with the Myers Brothers Award, for his contributions to the growth of Cup racing.
• Tony Stewart received three different awards for his on-track performance -- the $135,000 Bank of America Card Services Mid-Race Leader Award; the $100,000 USG Improving the Finish Award and the $75,000 Wix Lap Leader Award.
• Kasey Kahne received $100,000 for winning the Budweiser Pole Award and $101,000 for winning the Commit Lozenges Commit to Win Award. Kahne won six pole positions in 2006.
• Mike Ford, crew chief for Denny Hamlin, won the $102,400 DirecTV Crew Chief of the Year Award.
• Matt Kenseth won the $75,000 Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award.
RED CARPET AUCTION
The NASCAR Foundation will have a Red Carpet Online Charity Auction for fans to bid on clothing and accessories worn by NASCAR celebrities at the Nextel Cup Series Awards Banquet in New York.
The auction will go live during the banquet on Dec. 1 -- so check back for more info.
• The No. 31 Chevrolet team of Jeff Burton received the $75,000 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award.
• Kevin Harvick received the $100,000 Mobil 1 Command Performance Award.
• Allstate, the Official Insurance Partner of NASCAR, was presented with the Marketing Achievement Award.
The No. 48 Chevrolet team takes top honors on Friday evening, but also received several awards on Thursday:
• Jimmie Johnson won the $105,000 Checker's/Rally's Double-Drive Thru Pit Award, the Goodyear Award -- including a scale replica of his No. 48 Chevrolet made from gold -- and the $75,000 Sunoco Diamond Performance Award.
• The Hendrick Motorsports engine department won the $107,000 Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award.
• Crew chief Chad Knaus was recognized with the Nextel Cup Series Championship Crew Chief Award.
Jimmie Johnson Nextel Cup
Kevin Harvick Busch
Todd Bodine Craftsman Truck
Eric Holmes AutoZone West
Mike Olsen Busch East
Mike Stefanik Whelen Modified
Junior Miller Whelen Southern Modified
Tim Schendel AutoZone Elite Midwest
Gary Lewis AutoZone Elite Northwest
J.R. Norris AutoZone Elite Southeast
Rip Michels AutoZone Elite Southwest
Philip Morris Dodge Weekly
Champions gather at Rockefeller Plaza
An annual Champions Week tradition is the gathering of champions from all of NASCAR's national, regional and local racing series, for a commemorative photo opportunity. It is the only time during the year that all of NASCAR's champions from 12 different racing series are together in one location. Since 2002, this exclusive gathering has been held in New York as part of Champions Week.
On Thursday, the group -- including Johnson, Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick and Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine, assembled at Rockefeller Plaza, near the city's famous Christmas Tree, for their photo.
One day and counting
Champions Week concludes Friday with a final day of activities for Jimmie Johnson, the rest of the Nextel Cup Top 10 drivers and 11th-place driver Tony Stewart. Johnson and his team will pose for photos along Park Avenue in Manhattan, before attending several pre-Awards Ceremony receptions.
The Awards Ceremony begins at 7 p.m. ET in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel's Grand Ballroom. At 6 p.m. ET, SPEED will air a special one hour pre-show: NASCAR Takes Manhattan.
TNT will televise the Awards Ceremony beginning at 9 p.m. ET, featuring musical entertainment by singer/songwriter Jewel and comedy performances by Jay Mohr.