Johnson to be honored in week-long NYC celebration

Three-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will be the centerpiece of the annual Champions Week celebration in New York -- a busy and joyful five days that marks the traditional end of each season.

Johnson, who captured his third consecutive title in the series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, is the first driver in 30 years to win three consecutive series titles. He joins NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough as the only two drivers to accomplish that feat. Yarborough won his titles in 1976-78.

It's going to be a busy week for Jimmie Johnson and for all the information regarding Champions Week in New York.

• Champions Week

The festivities -- beginning Monday -- mark the 28th consecutive year that NASCAR has crowned its Sprint Cup champion in New York. The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel has served as the sport's host for each of those years, with its historic Grand Ballroom the site of the Sprint Cup Series awards ceremony on Dec. 5.

Johnson, however, will have much to do before Champions Week culminates on that Friday night.

• Monday -- Johnson and wife Chandra arrive in New York. That evening, he and Chandra will participate in the annual Champion's Welcome Dinner in the Waldorf-Astoria executive kitchen, a gathering attended by NASCAR and champion team representatives and overseen by executive chef John Doherty.

• Tuesday -- Johnson will participate in another Champions Week tradition -- photo shoots at New York landmarks. Later that evening, he'll be a guest on Motor Racing Network's NASCAR Live.

• Wednesday -- Johnson begins his day by ringing the New York Stock Exchange's Opening Bell. He'll also attend the Tissot Countdown Clock event at the Marquee of the Hard Rock Café, a March of Dimes luncheon, a media luncheon at Foley's and the Sprint Media Celebration at the Sports Museum of America.

• Thursday -- Johnson's major event this day is the annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers media luncheon at Cipriani. He'll be joined by the rest of the top 12 drivers in the 2008 Chase, plus Raybestos Rookie of the Year Regan Smith and other annual award winners. Following the awards luncheon, Johnson will participate in the traditional Times Square photo shoot outside the Hard Rock Café, then attend the annual Stewie Awards, orchestrated by fellow Cup champion Tony Stewart, at Sirius/XM Satellite Radio studios.

• Friday -- Johnson, his family and his Hendrick Motorsports team will participate in traditional photos during the afternoon, before attending the Cup Series awards ceremony that evening in the Waldorf-Astoria's Grand Ballroom (9 p.m. ET on ESPN Classic).