NASCAR's 12 champions, front row from left: Tim Schendel, Philip Morris, Eric Holmes, Mike Stefanik, Mike Olsen; back row from left: Rip Michels, J.R. Norris, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Todd Bodine, Junior Miller, Gary Lewis. Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR champs bask in experience of a lifetime

NEW YORK -- Hometown NASCAR champions from across America arrived at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel for the 11th consecutive season-ending celebration.

Twice on Thursday, NASCAR's three national series champions joined the regional and local champions. Of the dozen drivers, seven are part of the Champion's event for the first time since the event was established in 1996.

Fellow driver Burt Myers chats with Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion Junior Miller. Credit: NASCAR

First-timers include:
• Rip Michels (AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series)
• Philip Morris (Dodge Weekly Series, national champion)
• J.R. Norris (AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series)
• Tim Schendel (AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series)
• Eric Holmes (Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series)
• Todd Bodine (Craftsman Truck Series)
• Jimmie Johnson (Nextel Cup Series)

Repeat appearances are being made by:
• Junior Miller (Whelen Southern Modified Tour)
• Mike Olsen (Grand National Division, Busch East Series)
• Gary Lewis (AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series)
• Mike Stefanik (Whelen Modified Tour champion)
• Kevin Harvick (Busch Series)

The group enjoyed a multi-course, fine dining experience at Del Posto restaurant on Wednesday, followed by an evening tour of the city, including the World Trade Center excavation site.

By Thursday afternoon, the group had bonded through events, introductions and interviews at the annual NASCAR/NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon at Cipriani, followed by the 11th annual NASCAR champions' photo shoot. This year's class picture was shot in Rockefeller Plaza with the newly lit Christmas tree as a backdrop.

Mike Stefanik has nine NASCAR championships to his credit. Credit: NASCAR

Of this year's champions, no one has attended more of them than Stefanik, of Coventry, R.I. -- about a two-hour drive from Manhattan. Stefanik is a seven-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and two-time Busch East Series champion.

Stefanik said the New York event is part of the champion's experience, but he tries not to think about it during the season.

"I try not to count my chickens before they're hatched," Stefanik said. "Once the last race is over and they tally up the points, then we start talking about banquets and trips. This is a nice place to come. It's not too far from home and for us it's like a mini-vacation."

Stefanik's wife, Julie, said champions' celebrations have come a long way while she's shared Mike's career.

"I was born into racing, and this New York event is the coolest, Julie said.

Mike quickly noted Julie is extra helpful for events such as the one in New York.

"Julie is really good about knowing the itineraries and telling me which suit I wear to what event," Stefanik added. "It's fun to come here and meet the other champions. I haven't seen Todd Bodine in a while.

"NASCAR does a wonderful job of taking us to some wonderful places. We just take it all in and enjoy it."

AutoZone West Series champion Eric Holmes is enjoying his first visit to New York City, while getting to know his fellow champions of 2006.

Eric Holmes and J.R. Norris are first-time champions. Credit: NASCAR

"It's been a great experience," Holmes said. "We've been busy the whole time we've been here. It's been a lot of fun. Every time you turn around there's someone who's someone in NASCAR racing and it's really neat to come here and hang out with them and have a good time.

"There's not a lot of pressure. We're just enjoying ourselves."

Backstage at the Thursday afternoon Myers Brothers Luncheon, Holmes chatted with Nextel Cup Series team owner Richard Childress.

"The car I drove to our championship this year was one of his former NASCAR Busch Series cars that I bought from [team owner] Bill McAnally," Holmes said. "I know Kevin Harvick a little bit by racing against him and Kyle and Kurt Busch. There are a lot of guys I've been around and know so that's kind of cool.

"Kevin and Kurt were at the top of the NASCAR West Series and Southwest Series when I first started running with them. We're about the same age I just started a little later. So I got to know them a little bit those years and drove Kurt's car a couple of times after he moved back East. We've raced against Kenny Schrader a lot.

"I've been racing for a living for about six years now. I've had a good time and I can't complain if I didn't get to go farther. But every racer would like to be sitting where Jimmie Johnson is right now."

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.  For more information, click here •   NASCAR Foundation

Tim Schendel won the 2006 Midwest Series championship to earn his first trip ever to New York.

"It's all new to me. It's a huge city. I'm from a town of 8,000 people," said Schendel, of Sparta, Wis. "It's neat to come here and be part of all the NASCAR events and be here with all the other champions. I've seen so many people from the media, and a lot of important and popular faces. It's been a fun time."

Gary Lewis returns to the champions' event for a second time, but it is his first in New York. When he won his prior Northwest Series championship, in 1998, the event was held at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"This is incredible. It's a once in a life time experience," Lewis said.

This is the third unique travel opportunity NASCAR racing has brought Lewis. Several years ago, he joined then U.S. Army sponsored Nextel Cup Series driver Jerry Nadeau to Afghanistan to visit U.S. troops.

"I was offered the opportunity to go with Jerry, Geoffrey Bodine and a bunch of other guys, and I jumped at it," Lewis said.

"I was proud to be part of that and I'm proud to be here with all the champions in New York, too. I am happy to be here to salute Jimmie Johnson for his championship."

2006 NASCAR Weekly Series national champion Philip Morris was recently honored for his title with a lavish ceremony in Las Vegas. The New York experience has been an unexpected bonus.

"I didn't think it would be like this," Morris said. "I didn't know they would treat us so good and really rolled out the red carpet. It's been awesome and exciting. There's about 100,000 things to do here, and Friday, I'm just going to let my wife, Donna, chose and we're going to do it up until banquet time.

"I've never been to New York or seen the city and all the people... even a lot of race fans. It's neat being here."

Two-time Busch Series champ Harvick is attending his third champion's event, as well as his top-10 finish in the Chase. He originally attended when he won his breakthrough NASCAR West Series championship in 1998.

"This has turned into quite an event," Harvick said of the champions gathering. "To do it here in New York with the Cup stuff kind of opens a door that most people don't get to walk through. All the champions are available to the owners and they get a lot of exposure to a lot of different people, so it's a pretty neat event.

"When I got to do this in 1998 it was exciting. I still have a couple pictures hanging from then.

"I know some of this year's champions and I've raced with some of them. It's just nice to see everyone enjoy their championship along with all the other NASCAR champions this year.