Champion's Week begins with two-state celebration

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Now it's time for Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson to reap the rewards of a record-setting season.

Johnson, who drives the No. 48 Chevrolet owned by Hendrick Motorsports, heads west for the inaugural Champion's Week in Las Vegas -- and the celebration of Johnson's unprecedented fourth consecutive Cup Series title.

Johnson

A native of El Cajon, Calif., Johnson wrapped up the 2009 championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 22, capping a season in which he won seven races and gave Hendrick Motorsports its record 12th NASCAR national-series crown.

Johnson, 34, will have much to do during a busy, two-state Champion's Week schedule that features more fan involvement than ever. The week culminates with the formal Cup Series Awards Ceremony at Wynn Las Vegas on Friday night.

Monday
Johnson will attend three events beginning with an 11 a.m. PT student assembly at Crest Elementary School in El Cajon, Calif., the school Johnson attended.

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation will award grants to 11 San Diego-area schools. Johnson will then host an interactive fan fest for United States Marines and their families at Camp Pendleton, Calif., from 3-7 p.m. PT followed by a homecoming celebration at Lowe's, 9416 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, Calif., from 7-10 p.m. PT.

Tuesday
Johnson will host a Fan Appreciation Breakfast and Champion's Q&A from 10 a.m.-noon PT at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The event is open to 700 of the track's invited guests.

Wednesday
The champion's Las Vegas celebration begins at 10 a.m. PT with the Chasers for Charity Fanfest at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Neon Garage. The free-admission portion of the event includes a red-carpet walk by the champion and other 2009 Chase drivers, car displays, live music, reduced-price concessions and a raffle drawing.

A Charity Roast of Johnson will be held at 1:30 p.m. PT in the speedway's Blackjack Club and is open to the first 300 people who respond (information at www.lvms.com). A $250 tax-deductible donation to Speedway Children's Charities, includes a private reception with Johnson and Chase participants plus reserved seats and parking. The event will be shown on closed-circuit television in the Neon Garage.

Thursday
The annual NMPA Myers Brothers Awards event will be held from 1-2:45 p.m. PT in the Venetian Showroom at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. Johnson will be joined by the other 11 Chase drivers, plus Raybestos Rookie of the Year Joey Logano and other annual award winners.

Race fans will get to see Johnson and fellow Chase drivers participate in a Victory Lap parade in their show cars on Las Vegas Boulevard -- the city's legendary "Strip" -- beginning at 3:15 p.m. PT at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. "Mr. Las Vegas," Wayne Newton, will drop the green flag to start the event. The lap includes a pit stop and "burnout" at the Spring Mountain Road intersection before returning to the MGM Grand at 4 p.m. PT.

Friday
Johnson formally accepts his Cup Series championship awards. He, his family and his Hendrick Motorsports team will participate in traditional photos during the afternoon, before attending the awards ceremony that evening.

SPEED will televise the event live at 9 p.m. ET.

• Las Vegas events schedule