Bowyer, JGR to be honored at Nationwide ceremony

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In its first season as title sponsor of the Nationwide Series, Nationwide Insurance has been rewarded with a "two-for-one."

Saturday night on the stage of the Tuscan Ballroom at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, Fla., Clint Bowyer officially will be crowned the 2008 series driver champion, while Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 20 Toyota team also will be honored as series owner champion.

Nationwide Series

Final Point Standings

Rank	Driver	Points
1	Clint Bowyer	5,132
2	Carl Edwards	5,111
3	Brad Keselowski	4,794
4	David Ragan	4,525
5	Mike Bliss	4,518
6	Kyle Busch	4,461
7	David Reutimann	4,388
8	Mike Wallace	4,128
9	Jason Leffler	4,086
10	Marcos Ambrose	3,991

• Complete list

For the second consecutive year and the third time in series history, the titles will be shared. Richard Childress Racing won the owner championship last year while Carl Edwards was the driver champion. In 2003, RCR claimed the owner crown; Brian Vickers won the driver title.

Bowyer's first week as driver champion will be a busy one. Some of the key highlights include:

Tuesday
Bowyer travels to Columbus, Ohio, home of Nationwide Insurance headquarters. He will take part in a multitude of activities including a visit to Nationwide Children's Hospital, a meeting with company executives and a question and answer/autograph session with company associates.

He'll also meet with Columbus-area media before attending the Columbus Blue Jackets-Edmonton Oilers hockey game at Nationwide Arena. In addition to taking in the game, he'll participate in an on-ice activity during the first intermission.

Thursday
Bowyer, his No. 2 Chevrolet crew and the owner champion No. 20 Toyota team will be guests of Nationwide Insurance for a congratulatory dinner in Orlando.

Friday
As part of 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champions' Week in Orlando, series driver champion Clint Bowyer and other drivers who finished in the Top 10 in the championship standings will hold an autograph session outside the ESPN Club at Disney's BoardWalk from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Those scheduled to be on hand are Bowyer, Joey Logano (representing owner champion Joe Gibbs Racing), Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, David Ragan, Mike Bliss, David Reutimann, Mike Wallace, Jason Leffler and rookie of the year Landon Cassill.

The autograph session is free. Participants must pick up a wristband in order to take part. Wristbands will be available outside the ESPN Club beginning at 10 a.m. Participants are limited to one item for signing other than driver Hero Cards that will be provided.

Bowyer also will be featured on a satellite media tour broadcast from the ESPN Club that afternoon before being honored along with members of his team and the owner champion team at a private dinner hosted by NASCAR that evening.

Saturday
Bowyer, the No. 2 team and the No. 20 team will participate in the traditional Champion's Photo Shoot at the Portofino Bay Hotel. Then both champion teams will join the top 10 drivers, rookie of the year and other guests at the main event, the Nationwide Series awards banquet. The ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. and culminates as Bowyer and JGR officially are coroneted as the 2008 Nationwide Series driver and owner champion.