Memorable moments from NASCAR Awards ceremony

The annual NASCAR Awards have been host to many memorable moments, regardless of the event's location. With the Awards Show scheduled for Thursday night (8 ET, NBCSN) -- and in Nashville for the first time -- it's time for a look at some of the most memorable moments from the annual awards banquet through the years.

1981: Darrell Waltrip was heralded for his first premier series championship in the first NASCAR Awards ceremony in New York City. Waltrip was feted at the Starlight Roof in the Waldorf-Astoria, a venue that would become familiar for NASCAR offseasons to come.

1983: Bobby Allison celebrated his only driving championship with his DiGard Racing team in New York. He received a phone call from President Ronald Reagan as part of the festivities, with the Commander in Chief telling the 46-year-old title winner: You've given a lot to those people who've watched you race for 22 years. We all look forward to continuing to watch you."

1992: Alan Kulwicki's underdog run to a championship as an owner/driver was capped with a whirlwind trip to the Big Apple. At the end of his speech, the Frank Sinatra standard "My Way" played as a tribute to Kulwicki's independent spirit.

1994: When Dale Earnhardt tied Richard Petty with his seventh crown in NASCAR's top division, he received a royal welcome. "That was a feat I thought would never be tied," Earnhardt said, with a nod to the King's all-time mark. Since then, Jimmie Johnson has made the illustrious seven-time club a group of three.

1995: After getting a season's worth of good-natured ribbing from Dale Earnhardt about his age, 24-year-old Jeff Gordon has a final laugh with the veteran Intimidator. In response to Earnhardt's joke that Gordon would have to toast everyone with milk, he did just that. The gesture brought Earnhardt to his feet, standing to raise a glass to Gordon's first crown.

2008: Jimmie Johnson's run to his third straight championship brought him even with NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough, who celebrated alongside the driver of the No. 48 in New York. "I set a pretty good record, didn't I? It took them 30 years to tie it," Yarborough said.

2009: The following year brought a familiar face to the NASCAR Awards' head table, but a new venue in the ceremony's first visit to Las Vegas. The legendary Wayne Newton waved the green flag for burnouts on The Strip, and the NASCAR industry kicked off its offseason break with a taste of Sin City.

2011: Tony Stewart ended Jimmie Johnson's unprecedented run of consecutive championships at five in 2011. That didn't stop Johnson from playfully keeping with his routine of walking to the head table that year at Wynn Las Vegas. With some direction from joke conspirator Stewart, Johnson found his seat for the 2011 awards.

2015: Kyle and Samantha Busch joined 6-month-old son Brexton in full formal apparel for his introduction to the head table at the Wynn Las Vegas.

2015: Actor Tom Cruise was a surprise presenter for Jeff Gordon's retirement speech, moving the four-time champion to tears. The two embraced on stage, leaving an emotional Gordon to admit: "I knew it was going to be a tough night, but that just made it a little tougher, guys. How do you follow that up?"

2016: The following year, Tony Stewart was on the receiving end of a retirement surprise, with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder greeting him onstage. Stewart and the rest of the NASCAR industry then had a surprise for Vedder, announcing a $1.8 million donation to the EB Research Partnership -- a charitable cause near and dear to the musician -- in Stewart's name.

2017: First-time Monster Energy Series champion Martin Truex Jr. and his partner Sherry Pollex were the toast of the 2017 awards. In addition to celebrating Truex's driving title, the two were recognized for their philanthropic efforts with the NMPA Myers Brothers Award for outstanding contributions to the sport of stock-car racing.

2017: Dale Earnhardt Jr. was also front and center during the 2017 ceremony, winning the Most Popular Driver award for the 15th time after his final season of competition. But his career was also honored with the Bill France Award of Excellence, given to individuals who have made ultimate achievements and contributions to the sport.