Underlying theme at Busch banquet simple: Thanks (cont'd)

But "thanks" to Anheuser-Busch for its 26-year sponsorship of NASCAR's No. 2 series was a constant, with NASCAR chairman Brian France setting the stage when he presented the brewery's representative, Jim Gorczyca, with a portrait by artist Jeff Weis that contained the series' logo and images of its 26 champions.

"Without this series," said Nextel Cup regular Matt Kenseth, who finished 10th in the Busch driver standings after starting 24 of 35 races, "a lot of us [current Cup drivers] wouldn't be able to do what we do."

Roush Fenway teammate Greg Biffle, the 2002 Busch champion who ran 31 Busch races and finished ninth in the standings this year, said his 2002 effort was one of the highlights of his career.

What a ride

As the Busch Series honors its final champion, Dave Rodman looks back at 26 years of memories with the sponsor.

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"I'm so glad I've got that trophy," Biffle said of his Busch hardware gained on his path through NASCAR's informal 'ladder system.' "I've met so many people and created so many relationships I don't know that I'd want to do it any differently."

"You couldn't ask for a better title sponsor of a series," Edwards said, right before a three-minute video reviewing highlights of Busch's final season, interspersed with some historical clips, closed the evening.

Before the four-hour event was done, emotion, humor and respect had plenty of opportunities to play out on stage.

Holiday Inn's Mark Snyder prefaced his champion sponsor remarks for RCR's owner championship by walking over to Edwards and presenting him an envelope containing a free three-night stay at any Holiday Inn in the United States.

International Speedway Corp. head Lesa France Kennedy presented the Busch Series' Most Popular Driver Award to Edwards, noting "this means a lot to me personally, because from the beginning of his career I've watched his rise to stardom and ultimate success tonight."

But leave it to Edwards to tell the "rest of the story." Edwards related how, at the 2000 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series banquet he'd inadvertently met Kennedy and her husband, the late Dr. Bruce Kennedy, who was later memorialized along with other NASCAR personalities who died this season.

"We had some alcohol and were having a party in our room to celebrate my track championship at Capitol Speedway in Holts Summit, Mo.," Edwards said. "Lesa and I ended up going downtown and dancing all night after Bruce said, 'Honey, you're on your own with this one.'

"At that moment, I knew NASCAR was in good shape, thanks to Lesa Kennedy. I don't know who voted for this award [it was the NASCAR membership] -- but thanks to the fans. It's a joy to be a part of this sport."

Helton introduced a memorial photo and video tribute to a number of NASCAR and media personalities who passed on this year, including Dr. Kennedy and former NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr., by saying, "We lost Bill this past June. He was a great visionary, leader and mentor [and] a great friend to everyone in this room, whether you knew it or not. It's hard to imagine going on without him, but he worked very hard to make sure we did."

Second-place finisher Reutimann emerged from three days of laryngitis to offer his thanks to his Michael Waltrip Racing team and his kudos to Edwards.

"I used to like Carl a lot, until about the middle of the season when we were about 2,000 points behind," Reutimann said through a grin, before getting serious. "Being outrun by a guy you have a lot of respect for doesn't make it any easier, but you can accept it."

Hamilton Jr. credited his father, 2004 Craftsman Truck Series champ Bobby Hamilton, who also was honored in the video after dying from cancer earlier this year, with still teaching him to appreciate the moment, and what he's accomplished in his career rather than fretting over today's shortcomings.

"All I have to think about is every Saturday between noon and 4 p.m. -- or whenever we're doing what we do -- I'm one of those 43 [strapped into a Busch Series racecar]; now how cool is that?" Hamilton Jr. said. "I'm going to fly home tonight and my little girl is going to be waiting for me and thrilled to see me -- and that's what this is really all about."

Eighth-place driver Marcos Ambrose, who lost a close rookie of the year race to fifth-place Roush Fenway driver David Ragan, said he'd leave Saturday morning to make a 32-hour trip home to Launceston, Tasmania -- the first time he's been there in more than a year -- with his wife and two small children, one of whom is only two months old.

More than anything, Ambrose appreciated his acceptance in a series in which he had no idea if he'd successfully be able to make it after winning two championships in the similar V8 Supercar Series in Australia.

"I thought that would be the hard part -- breaking in," Ambrose said of his reception by the fans and his fellow Busch competitors. "But that was easy. Driving the cars has been the hardest part."

NASCAR's all about competition, and so was the second Busch banquet in the last five years at which Childress' program, led by 25-year employee Will Lind, has upstaged -- or at least shared the stage with -- the champion driver's program.

From the first syllable of introduction that left co-host and ESPN motorsports reporter Allen Bestwick's throat, what seemed like five or six 10-person tables leapt to their feet issuing thunderous applause and cheers. It seemed like Roush's four or five tables were a half-step behind all night.

Helton gave Childress his owner's award, saying, "Richard, 40 years ago you just wanted to race, and then build a competitive organization -- and after the last couple years, you may be on to something."

For his part, Childress -- who along with Roush was the first to offer thanks and prayers for members of the U.S. military -- had high praise for his competition across the stage.

"You're a pleasure to watch race, and to compete against," Childress said to Edwards. "And Jack [Roush], you're one of the toughest guys we've ever had to race since you came into this sport. To have four guys up here [in the top 10] is a real accomplishment. Congratulations."

But even in the banquet's after parties, Childress was egging-on his bunch, saying "We've got to top that [driver champion's] party down the hall."