The bright lights of big city New York again beckon for Champion's Week. Credit: Autostock

NASCAR's champions descend upon New York

NEW YORK -- Although Kurt Busch already has earned the 2004 Nextel Cup Series championship, he'll get a taste of what it's like to celebrate it this week in the Big Apple.

It's time for NASCAR's annual Champion's Week festivities, and Busch, who is enjoying his first Cup title, is the latest champion to be officially crowned in New York. NASCAR has feted its premier series champ in New York City since 1981.

Champion Kurt Busch will take home the inaugural Nextel Cup trophy. Credit: Autostock

So it's back to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel for car owner Jack Roush. Busch, who drives for Roush Racing, is following the footsteps of teammate Matt Kenseth, who celebrated his first Cup title during 2003 Champion's Week.

Busch, 26, represents a season of firsts -- the first season of series sponsorship for Nextel, the first year of the "Chase for the Nextel Cup," the new method of crowning a champion, and many other twists on and off the track.

He'll be busy this week with media events, a charity endeavor, appearances on national morning shows, photo shoots and a visit to a New York fire department training facility. The fourth-year driver from Las Vegas will cap his Champion's Week schedule with Friday night's awards ceremony in the Waldorf's historic Grand Ballroom.

FAST FACTS •   What: Nextel Cup Series Awards Ceremony  •   Where: Grand Ballroom, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City.  •   When: Friday, 7-10:30 p.m.  •   TV: TNT, 9 p.m.   •   Radio: MRN/XM Satellite.  •   Special Guest: Comedian Jay Mohr, host of NBC's "Last Comic Standing."  •   Musical Entertainment: Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed, and R&B vocalist Brian McKnight.

Busch will participate in several traditional Cup champion activities, like Friday afternoon's team photo in front of the Waldorf's main entrance. Another is Thursday morning's photo op in Times Square with the champion's show car at 8:30 a.m. Following that activity, Busch will join NASCAR chairman Brian France and Nextel's Tim Donahue to open NASDAQ at 9:15 a.m.

Another highlight is a group photo of Busch, Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr., Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton along with NASCAR's weekly and touring champions to be taken at 11:30 a.m. at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum at Pier 86. All 11 champions will be pictured together against one of Manhattan's landmark vistas.