Eight '07 NASCAR champs join Johnson in New York (cont'd)

Of all the NASCAR champions in attendance, Steve Carlson of West Salem, Wis., is the veteran of the experience. Carlson is the 2007 NASCAR Whelen All American Series national champion. He's been to the New York celebration twice before as a champion of NASCAR's former Elite Division, the same title he won when the champion's photo shoot was held at past locations including Atlanta and Homestead, Fla.

"Without a touring series to race in, I thought my travel days to the New York banquet were done," Carlson said. "My weekly track [LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway] is five blocks from my house and it's NASCAR sanctioned. We started out to run part time there this season and then went full time because we started winning and won the national championship and made it back to the champion's event in New York. NASCAR really honors its champions, and it's pretty cool. It's big."

Other NASCAR touring champions introduced at Thursday's luncheon include Grand National Division, West Series champion Mike David of Modesto, Calif.; Whelen Modified Series champion Donnie Lia of Jericho, N.Y.; Whelen Southern Modified Series champion L.W. Miller of Mooresville, N.C.; Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday; and Busch Series champion Carl Edwards.

NASCAR Champions Week reaches a crescendo Friday, with the Nextel Cup Series Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom. Earlier in the day, all the champions will appear at Fanfest at Hard Rock Café in Times Square.

Friday, Johnson and his team will pose for formal photos on New York City's Park Avenue before attending several pre-awards ceremony receptions. That night, Johnson officially will be crowned the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion. The awards ceremony begins at 7 p.m. ET in the Waldorf-Astoria's venerable Grand Ballroom. ESPN Classic will air the ceremony at 9 p.m. ET.

NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon Award Winners
Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award: Juan Montoya
Manufacturers Championship Award: Chevrolet
Marketing Achievement Award: ESPN Marketing
Chex Cereals Most Popular Driver Award: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Buddy Shuman Award: Robert Yates
Home Depot Humanitarian Award: Don Miller
Budweiser Pole Award: Jeff Gordon
Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge Award: Jeff Gordon
Commit Lozenges Commit to Win Award: Jeff Gordon
Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award: Jimmie Johnson
WIX Filters Lap Leader Award: Jeff Gordon
Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award: No. 48 Chevrolet
Mobil 1 Command Performance: Kurt Busch
USG Improving the Finish Award: Matt Kenseth
DirecTV Crew Chief of the Year Award: Mike Ford
Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award: Earl Wheeler (Hendrick)
Dow Automotive Strategic Call of the Race Award: Jimmie Johnson
Sunoco Diamond Performance Award: Jimmie Johnson
Goodyear Award: Jimmie Johnson
Champion Sponsor Award: Robert Niblock (CEO, Lowe's)
Champion Crew Chief Award: Chad Knaus (No. 48 Chevrolet)
Myers Brothers Award: Bill France Jr., accepted by Betty Jane France