Jimmie Johnson and wife, Chandra, have experienced the Big Apple twice
already to celebrate the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Today,
they arrived for the third consecutive time for what will be a beehive
of activity.
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Chandra Johnson and 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson enjoy dinner in their honor at the Waldorf=Astoria. Photo by Getty Images.
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"Champions Week in New York City is always an amazing time," said
Johnson. "It's fun to celebrate everything we've done this year as a
team and really let loose and have some fun. Everyone works extremely
hard year-round to make us one of the best teams in the garage, so it's
nice to have some time to reflect on what we've done and enjoy some of
the recognition."
Joining Johnson as the week progresses will be the rest of the Chase for the
Cup top 12, his Hendrick Motorsports crew and team owners of the No. 48
Lowe's Chevrolet and other award winners.
Today was the easy day for the three-time Cup title winner leading up to
Friday's awards ceremony at the Waldorf=Astoria's Grand Ballroom. The
event will be televised worldwide to allow the NASCAR fans to view the
black-tie affair; one that is as important to the fans as the red carpet
for Oscar night in Hollywood is to movie aficionados.
Tomorrow, Johnson will pose for the cameras at famous areas in the New
York City area which is one of many traditions during Champions Week.
Wednesday will be busy starting early in the day when he will ring the
opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Perhaps his luck in three
straight years of the Chase for the Cup will pay off to bring a bit of
hope to the sagging economy.
Johnson is only the second driver in the history of NASCAR's top series
to earn the three-peat. Cale Yarborough stood alone for 30 years, he
notched his titles in 1976, '77 and '78. While six other racers have
earned three or more Cup championships, taking three straight does make
a legend -- a status that the former off-road champion shrugs off.
"In my eyes, he's the best there's ever been," his crew chief Chad
Knaus said on the day he earned the 2008 title in the season finale at
Homestead-Miami Speedway. "With the competition level the way it is
today and what you have to do day in and day out without any time off.
In my mind, he's the best."
Yarborough and Johnson have three titles as does Lee Petty, David
Pearson and Darrell Waltrip. Johnson's teammate, Jeff Gordon, has four.
Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. each have seven. With Hendrick
Motorsports' current drivers, it would not be a surprise in 2009 for
one of the dominating teams in the series to add to the three or more
titles. Gordon could yet take his fifth while Johnson could be the first
NASCAR driver to make it four consecutive championships. Dale Earnhardt
Jr. and Mark Martin are still searching for their first Cup title.
The team that gave Johnson the run for the money with Carl Edwards being
the main man from Roush Fenway Racing could knock Rick Hendrick's team
off the top of the totem pole next year.
Edwards ended second this year and along with the rest of the top 12, he
will join Johnson in the Big Apple on Thursday, along with the Rookie of the
Year Regan Smith for the Champions Week NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon
on Thursday. Media day will continue with a photo shoot in Times Square.
Later in the evening, Tony Stewart's second annual "Stewie Awards" will take
place.
The "Stewie Awards" are fun for, not only the NASCAR community, but also
for the NASCAR fans. Presented by SIRIUS XM Radio, the unique awards
will honor the best, boldest and funniest moments of the 2008 season as
voted by the fans.
One example is the 'Best Stunt Sequence', also known as the Hal Needham
Award, for the year's most spectacular crash. Nominations for the award
include rookie Michael McDowell's crash during qualifying at Texas Motor
Speedway, Jeff Gordon's inner wall hit at Las Vegas Motor Speedway,
Brian Vicker's wheel falling off at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Juan Pablo
Montoya taking out other cars at Phoenix International Raceway when it
ended with David Gilliland landing on top of Scott Speed's car. Added in
the list was the Talladega Superspeedway "Big One" when six of the Chase
drivers collected.
"After seeing the tears of joy stream down Kevin Harvick's face after
handing him his 'Stewie' for 'Best Original Drama' last year we knew
that, while it would be tough to top last year's event, the show must go
on," said Stewart."So we're excited to be back for year two to celebrate
all the great people and performances from the 2008 season. It'll be a
great way to cap off the season and we'll have a lot of fun with our
guests and our listeners on SIRIUS and XM."
Champions Week ends on Friday which allows the Johnsons to relax and
rest after what will be the busiest day. The morning light will awaken
them to the day that they and the Hendrick team will celebrate in style,
from photo shoots to the big night, closing out the 2008 week long
celebration.
