France, Parsons receive inaugural 'Stewie' awards

NEW YORK -- Winners of the inaugural 'Stewie Awards' were announced Thursday night by two-time Cup Series champion and Sirius radio host Tony Stewart. The 2007 'Stewie Award' winners were decided by fans around the country who logged on to www.sirius.com to vote for the best, boldest and funniest moments of the 2007 NASCAR season.

The 'Stewies' were awarded during a special broadcast of Tony Stewart Live, the weekly talk show hosted by Stewart and Matt Yocum on Sirius NASCAR Radio channel 128.

Winners in 12 categories including "Best Duet," honoring outstanding teamwork by a driver and crew chief, "Best Original Drama," honoring the year's most exciting race moment, "Best Driver2Crew Chatter Exchange," "Best Stunt Sequence" and others were honored.

Among the evening's highlights was the presentation of the "Stewie Lifetime Achievement Award" to two legends of NASCAR -- former CEO and chairman Bill France Jr. and Hall of Fame driver/broadcaster Benny Parsons, both of whom passed away in 2007.

France became NASCAR's president in January 1972, replacing his father and NASCAR's founder, William H.G. France. Bill France Jr. grew up in the formative years of stock-car racing, living and learning every detail of the sport from his own experiences -- flagging events, scoring, conducting, promoting and even racing himself in the 1950s.

Benny Parsons, the 1973 Cup champion and 1975 Daytona 500 winner, was respected by drivers and loved by fans throughout his racing career. After retiring from competition, Parsons endeared himself to television audiences as a straightforward, unassuming and insightful broadcaster. Parsons was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994 and named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

The winners of the 2007 'Stewie Awards' are:

Stewie Lifetime Achievement Award
• Bill France, Jr., former Chairman and CEO of NASCAR
• Benny Parsons, Hall of Fame driver / broadcaster

Golden Stewie Award
Honoring a legendary driver from the Golden Era of racing (1960-85)
• A.J. Foyt

Best Duet
For outstanding teamwork by a driver and crew chief
• Clint Bowyer and Gil Martin: Martin keeps Bowyer calm and team performs only one adjustment all day to get Bowyer's first career Cup Series win at New Hampshire on Sept. 16.

Best Original Drama
For year's most exciting race moment
• Kevin Harvick: edges Mark Martin to win his first Daytona 500 on Feb. 18.

New Kid on the Track Award
For year's most outstanding performance by a rookie
• Juan Montoya: wins first Cup Series race at Sonoma on June 24.

Best Stunt Sequence
Hal Needham Award -- For year's most spectacular crash
• Clint Bowyer: crosses finish line at Daytona 500 on his roof on Feb. 18.

Best Original Comedy
For year's most entertaining on track "incident" or occurrence
• Robby Gordon: performs "victory celebration" burnout despite losing Busch Series race at Montreal on Aug. 4.

Best Vocal Performance
For year's most memorable quote or sound bite
• Actor Kevin James: memorable "Start Your Engines" command at Daytona on July 7.

Best Engineering and Special Effects
Smokey Yunick Award -- For year's most creative -- and ultimately illegal -- modifications to a race car
• Crew Chief David Hyder & MWR VP of Competition Bobby Kennedy: illegal fuel in No. 55 car at Daytona 500.

Dazed and Confused Award
For year's the most baffling move
• Teresa Earnhardt and DEI allow Dale Earnhardt Jr. to leave for Hendrick Motorsports

'I Got Dumped' Award
For year's most memorable on-track bumping
• Kyle Busch: wrecked by brother Kurt in All-Star Challenge at Charlotte on May 19.

Best Driver2Crew Chatter Exchange
For year's most memorable driver-to-pit crew communication
• Denny Hamlin / No. 11 team: discussing a "plan of attack" against Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 8 car at Martinsville on Oct. 21.