Philip Morris and his wife, Donna, are glad to be in New York. Credit: NASCAR

NASCAR's champs gather in New York

NEW YORK -- Talk about a change in scenery. Philip Morris, the 2006 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion, awoke Wednesday in his hometown of Ruckersville, Va. (pop. 7,641) and he'll spend the next three days in the nation's largest metropolis, New York (pop. 8,213,839).

Morris is in New York as NASCAR's national champion for the Weekly Series. He is one of 13 NASCAR champions in the city this week for the annual Champions Week activities which honors these drivers and culminates Friday with the Nextel Cup Series Awards Ceremony.

Joining Morris and 2006 Nextel Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson are:
• Kevin Harvick (Busch Series)
• Todd Bodine (Craftsman Truck Series)
• Eric Holmes (Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series)
• Mike Olsen (Grand National Division, Busch East Series)
• Tim Schendel (AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series)
• Gary Lewis (AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series)
• J.R. Norris (AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series)
• Rip Michels (AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series)
• Mike Stefanik (Whelen Modified Tour)
• Junior Miller (Whelen Southern Modified Tour)

	AutoZone Elite Division champions J.R. Norris and Gary Lewis enjoy Del Posto restaurant. Credit: NASCAR
	PHOTO GALLERY • Thursday in New York

Harvick, who won the 2006 Busch Series championship in addition to competing in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, has attended similar champion's gatherings in the past, before he became one of the top drivers on the Nextel Cup Series. His first experience as a champion came in 1998, when he won AutoZone West Series championship. He didn't get a trip to New York at that time, but Harvick says NASCAR's renewed emphasis on its regional and local racing programs opens doors for aspiring drivers.

"I think it's great," Harvick said. "It adds a lot of exposure to what they do and kind of gives them a taste of what's in front of them if they have a racing career. Bringing everybody here is a good reward for everybody in the other divisions."

Morris, who races in the Late Model class at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., says the visit is the opportunity of a lifetime.

"I'm just looking forward to checking out all the stuff I've never seen before," Morris said. "I've been there before when I was a kid, but I haven't been in so many years, especially just to enjoy the city and check stuff out."

Morris will get plenty of opportunities to sightsee in between attending some of NASCAR's most prestigious off-season events. On Thursday, Morris and the rest of the 2006 champions were recognized at the NASCAR/National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers Luncheon.

Afterwards, they traveled a few blocks across town for a group photo shoot at one of the city's favorite wintertime landmarks, Rockefeller Plaza, home to its trademark Christmas tree and ice skating rink.

On Thursday evening, the champions had plans to attend a special Champions Dinner at the world-famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue. The luncheon, photo shoot and dinner are the only times during the year that all of NASCAR's champions are together in one location.