Best banquet moments are often the unscripted ones

Since the hugely-depended on teleprompter was introduced to NASCAR award banquets in the late 1990s, as well as the use of speech writers, driver emotion at times is written right out of the script.

Without naming names, we've seen it happen a million times -- uh, hmm ... Kevin Harvick circa 2003. The speech is so painfully rehearsed, eyes glued to the teleprompter -- uh, hmm ... Kasey Kahne circa 2006; that viewers or members of the audience can't bear to watch.

Somewhere between the laundry list of mandatory thank-you messages and season recaps, a driver's true meaning and intent for the speech is lost.

But to be fair, how can we expect to see true spontaneity when the run of show is as rehearsed as the Republican National Convention? The NASCAR banquet is unconventional in that it's one of few award shows where you already know who wins.

You can't expect Kyle Busch to go on stage and quote Sally Field, "You like me, you really like me!" Nor will you hear Kurt Busch quote Angelina Jolie, "I'm so in love with my brother right now." I know you remember the awkward kiss on the red carpet, right?

So here is my plea to all the notecard-toting, prompter-dependant speakers on their way to this year's banquet: Shoot from the hip.

I've gathered my list of the top-five most memorable moments of banquet speeches. Sorry, I tried to come up with 10 but you see the problem I have, right?

5. Kyle Busch thanks the wrong lady

Who can forget the best banquet fumble of 2006? Kyle Busch takes the stage to accept his "best of the worst" 10th-place finish while driving for Hendrick Motorsports and tries to thank his girlfriend for her support, but calls her by the wrong name.

Whoops!

Kyle Busch thanks his girlfriend Erica by calling her Eva -- his brother's wife -- at the 2006 championship banquet.

• Relive the slip-up
• All the highlights from 2006

Here's how it went: "Family, to me, means everything, so first off I'd like to start by thanking my mom, my dad, my grandmother, Kurt, and my girlfriend Eva. Eva? Err, Erica. Sorry."

The crowd gasped and then erupted with laughter. Kyle's at-the-time girlfriend hung her head in embarrassment. In an attempt to explain away the mistake Kyle said, "My brother, at his wedding ... the preacher called him Kyle ... so that's the best part about that. Sorry honey."

4. Crying Towel

What started in Sonoma, Calif., between Davey Allison and Ricky Rudd spilled over onto the banquet stage in 1991. At some point in that race, Allison assumed the lead but got spun by Rudd with two laps to go. With one to go, Rudd was black-flagged and penalized five seconds, handing the victory to Allison, his only road-course win.

But the feud went on throughout the season as the two continued to battle for second position or the lead in the point standings. Tempers and feelings were increasingly high between the two teams.

Finally, Allison's car battery died in Atlanta and finished a couple laps down. Rudd finished the season second in points, Allison finished third.

At the banquet, Rudd unexpectedly presented Allison with what he called a "crying towel." According to Miracle, by Peter Golenbock, it was an antagonistic gesture offered with a smile. A shocked and angered Allison took the handkerchief and wiped Rudd's face with it. People watched with amusement and onlookers applauded Rudd who normally maintained a some what even-keeled temperament. The crying towel became known as Rudd's silent revenge.

3. Tom Brokaw memorializes Bill France Jr.

In 2007, retired NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw gave a heartfelt, respectful and at times humorous tribute to Bill France Jr., who had passed away on June 4.

From the stage, Brokaw said he was proud to call France a friend.

In Remembrance

Tom Brokaw pays tribute to the man who started it all -- Bill France Jr. -- at the 2007 championship banquet.

• Watch the touching tribute
• All the highlights from 2007

"He was one of the most interesting people I've met, an incredibly successful man who was innately down to earth. He was a multi-millionaire who absolutely loved eating at Taco Bell, or hosting an impromptu cookout in the infield at Daytona, where he could show someone the fine art of making the perfect hot dog.

"Bill France Jr., you see, was impressed by no one -- starting with himself."

Brokaw's tribute reminded fans that the sport's greatest leader would be missed.

2. Tony Stewart a paparazzo?

Tony Stewart's first championship came in 2002, and the second half of Stewart's season was marked by an altercation with a photographer after the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. As punishment, NASCAR put Stewart on probation for the rest of the season.

Stewart went on a hot streak in the final races and at the end of the year was able to find humor in what was a humiliating event.

During his acceptance speech at the banquet that year, Stewart pulled a camera from behind the podium and began snapping photos at the photojournalists covering the event.

Hopefully this doesn't mean Stewart plans to bring a Goodyear tire on stage this year.

1. Got milk?

Saving the best for last, Jeff Gordon's acceptance speech after winning his first championship in 1995 is by far the most memorable by anyone's standards.

Gordon was both humorous and emotional.

Gordon won the title after battling seven-time defending champion Dale Earnhardt into the final race of the season. Many saw this as a symbolic passing of the torch, as Gordon collected his first championship the year after Earnhardt won his final one.

On stage, a man approached Gordon and brought an empty glass and a carafe of milk to the 25-year-old champion. Gordon proceeded to fill the empty glass with milk and toast Earnhardt.

It was a fitting gesture; Earnhardt had said he would toast Gordon with milk because of his triumph at such a young age.

The moral of the story is the night is full-rehearsed pomp and pageantry, but in the 26 years the show has traveled to the Big Apple, more than a handful of unforgettable memories have been created.

Here's to the handful that hopefully will be created next month.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.