Posted on by Staff Report

Don Post receives $100,000 for local charity; Other three finalists receive $25,000

The NASCAR Foundation is proud to announce Don Post, event chairman of the March of Dimes Kansas City chapter’s “Bikers for Babies” motorcycle ride, as the winner of the third annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. The NASCAR Foundation Chairwoman Betty Jane France announced the winner during Friday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas — the official coronation of 2013 champion Jimmie Johnson.

“Don Post is a hero, pure and simple,” said The NASCAR Foundation Chairwoman Betty Jane France. “We have so much respect for his accomplishments in the face of personal adversity along with his commitment to helping children who face their own adversity. His story is inspiring, and truly personifies what our award is all about.

“Not only are we honored to present him the third annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, we are honored just to know him.”

In 1980, Post’s life was forever changed when he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” and was told he only had three to five years to live. He retired from his professional job, and despite the ALS diagnosis, he embarked on a 33-year mission of donating his time and talent to charities in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Post has served on boards of directors and executive committees for a number of non-profit organizations and mentored many young children diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. He has been a member on the March of Dimes “Bikers for Babies” motorcycle ride committee for 12 years, and has been the event’s chairman since 2010.

The $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation will be used to help grow and develop existing March of Dimes programs, including research on how to improve the health of newborns, funding for educational initiatives and community programs such as support groups that help parents cope with their baby’s hospitalization, transition home and even death. Post also receives a new 2014 Chevrolet SS from Chevrolet.

In only its third year, the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award has donated $525,000 to individuals who are improving children’s lives in their respective communities. With the annual presentation of the award, The NASCAR Foundation’s mission is to honor passionate volunteers and NASCAR fans making an impact with children in their local communities and reflecting the commitment Betty Jane France has demonstrated with her charitable works and community efforts.

“I am truly blessed to be receiving this award from The NASCAR Foundation and I’m even more thrilled to be able to provide $100,000 to the March of Dimes, an organization that is dear to me,” said Post.  “The funds will be used to continue the mission of ensuring healthy babies are brought into this world, especially locally in Wyandotte County where premature births and infant mortality rates are above the norm. My love and thanks goes out to all who supported me in this vote.”

Post was chosen as the winner from a group of four finalists by a national fan vote on www.NASCAR.com. The finalists have collectively dedicated 87 years for their charities and impacted nearly 20,000. The volunteers who each received a $25,000 donation to their supporting charities, in recognition of being named as a finalist for the award, are: Duncan Dobie of Marietta, Ga., representing Camp Sunshine; Lisa Hall of Bedford, N.H., supporting CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children); and Richard Johnson of St. Johns, Fla., backing The Alpha-1 Foundation. The four finalists were selected by The NASCAR Foundation board of directors from applicants who have made a significant impact on the lives of children through volunteerism or charitable work. The announcement culminated an eight-week period during which the four finalists promoted their causes and asked fans to vote for them to receive the top award.

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Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR.com editors give their gift ideas for the racing fan on your list

Perhaps you’ve gone into one of your favorite stores recently and seen the staff’s recommendations and been influenced to buy "Betsy’s pick" because Betsy is an insider. Well, this is our attempt at being just like "Betsy" as NASCAR.com editors George Winkler, Taylor Starer and Zack Albert share their gift ideas for the racing fan on your holiday list.

George’s picks


Dale Earnhardt 3′ x 5′ two-sided flag

I can’t think of a better way to start a man cave than with the clean look of this two-sided flag emblazoned with the famous No. 3. Simply stated, this flag will show guests that you mean business. Plus, it’s a great icebreaker since every NASCAR fan seems to have their favorite story about The Intimidator. If it’s "go-big" or "go-home" time, this gift definitely lands in the "go-big" category.


Action Racing Collectibles 2014 Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 88 National Guard 1:24 Scale Platinum Die-Cast Chevrolet SS

Kids of all ages, including this one, are bound to enjoy the thrill of receiving a NASCAR die-cast car thanks to the attention to detail that goes into them. The 1:24 scale fits perfectly under the tree, or the 1:64 scale works as a stocking stuffer. Plus, a trip through the Die-Cast Shop gives race fans a preview of some of the new looks for 2014, including this No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet SS for Dale Earnhardt Jr., complete with stripes on the rear quarter panel and a dusty 88 on the side.


Over the Wall Collection: Jimmie Johnson Marled Pullover Hoodie

Whether you’re checking out preseason testing or planning to go to a night race in the 2014 season, it will be good to have a trusty hoodie along for the ride. And this one’s a winner thanks to a soft fleece lining that is a pleasant surprise beneath a marled exterior that can hold up to the cold weather. I picked Jimmie Johnson because of the way his color scheme meshes well with the design, but other drivers are available in this look, too.

Taylor’s picks

Raceway Fashionista Dale Earnhardt Pashmina Scarf

As a scarf enthusiast myself, I can’t think of a better gift that I would want to open on Christmas morning than this adorable Raceway Fashionista Pashmina scarf. While the action may heat up on the track, there’s no better way to stay warm in the stands than with this rhinestone-embellished NASCAR driver number accessory. Its light color and fringed ends make it an accessory that can complement any look for years to come.


Over the Wall Collection: Jeff Gordon women’s Max Static Full Zip Fleece Jacket

My biggest complaint about non-zip outerwear is that I never fail to mess up my hair when I put it on or take it off. The Over the Wall Collection Full Zip Fleece Jacket is the perfect solution for that. Featuring thumb holes on the cuffs and your favorite driver’s number stitched into the fabric, you’ll be turning heads this holiday season.


Chase Authentics #18 Kyle Busch Ladies Varsity 3/4 Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt

For the woman who wants to dress in NASCAR gear, but also wants to stay fashionable, I present the Chase Authentics Ladies Varsity 3/4 Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt. What I love most about this item is its subtleness. Its screen print graphic has a vintage feel with tire mark print, and the V-neck style allows you to show off your favorite driver number necklace at the same time.

Zack’s picks


The Game Richard Petty Motorsports 2013 Petty Enterprises Hat – Black

If 43 has always been your number regardless of who was driving or what brand the car was, this retro Petty Enterprises cap from the NASCAR Classics line of clothes and die-casts has your name on it. There’s a vintage feel to the timeless logo of one of stock-car racing’s most legendary teams, plus plenty of Petty blue accents befitting of The King. Make an old-school statement about the sport’s roots with this classic nod to NASCAR history.


Action Racing Collectibles Buddy Baker 1977 "Gray Ghost" No. 28 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1:24

There’s plenty of cool throwback 1:24-scale die-cast cars under the NASCAR Classics lineup with names like Petty, Waltrip, Childress and Earnhardt above the door. But this menacing Olds piloted by Buddy Baker in the late ’70s is just about the baddest of the bad. Baker drove the "Gray Ghost" livery to victory in the 1980 Daytona 500, a record for the fastest Great American Race that still stands. Dale Earnhardt Jr. liked the paint scheme so much, he drove a No. 88 "Gray Ghost" Chevrolet in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.


Danica Patrick Ladies Classic Rainboots

Now here’s a perfect 10. What better way to protect your footsies from the winter elements while showing your support for one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers than these bright Danica Patrick duck boots? Neutral color? No way. Slosh through rain, sleet and snow in style. Danica would.


NASCAR Play Rug

Give the littlest NASCAR fans in your life the gift of hours of floor time with an interactive play rug. It’s the ideal venue for your child (or adult child) to recreate NASCAR action with their collection of miniature cars. A vibrant imagination will turn this play track into a virtual day at the races or an impromptu 200-mph traffic jam, perfect for counting down the offseason days until the 2014 season.

For all your NASCAR holiday shopping needs, visit the Superstore and don’t forget to take advantage of the holiday specials listed within.

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Six-time champion Johnson showing a different side during this Champion’s Week

Watch: Awards Show live stream, 9 p.m. ET

LAS VEGAS — A stuffed tiger. Chickens. Even a baby Carlos, complete with a chest carrier.

Jimmie Johnson‘s sixth Champion’s Week reigning over NASCAR’s top series has turned into one extended scene from "The Hangover," with members of his staff loading his hotel suite with plush replicas of the items featured in the film. Johnson has played along, posting daily photos of the gags on his various social media feeds, including one where he pretends — we think — to be passed out on the bathroom floor next to an overturned beer bottle and a stuffed chicken.

"There are a few other fun things I’m trying to get squared away to kind of continue the madness," he said Thursday, after receiving several contingency awards as part of the National Motorsports Press Association Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon.

The big show arrives tonight, when Johnson is honored as Sprint Cup Series champion for the sixth time. Well aware of the rarity of that accomplishment, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has tried to research the sixth championship speeches of Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt — the two men who currently share the record of seven titles — hoping to draw some connection and place his achievement in its proper context.

It’s been a mixed bag. Petty won his sixth crown in 1975, six years before the modern awards ceremony was established in New York, and when the previous year’s champion was often honored with a dinner in Daytona Beach at the following Speedweeks. Johnson had better luck with Earnhardt, finding video of the Intimidator’s sixth championship speech in 1993, even though it wasn’t quite what he envisioned.

"I expected to see some life-changing thing on there, something I could attach to my speech in some meaningful moment or whatever. But he was just as nervous as the rest of us up there, and said the basic things, and was rattling and shaking and got off the stage and walked away," Johnson said, laughing.

"But I do recognize that I’m in a very unique position, in a position only two other men have ever been in. If I can find an eloquent way to mention that, that’s my goal to pass some praise and honor that I’m in that grouping that only two other men have been in."

Much of this week has been about pure enjoyment for Johnson, as the presence of stuffed babies and tigers might suggest. Johnson is soaking in a championship celebration that harkens back to his first in 2006 — before the streak of five in a row, which the No. 48 team felt so much pressure to maintain, it was often looking ahead to the next year before the previous one was even over. Johnson and his crewmen occasionally became lost in the mechanics and forgot to really have fun through it all.

"The streak, when it was alive — I didn’t realize how much pressure for that we were carrying on our shoulders," he said. "And this is almost a starting over sensation. We’re just enjoying it for what it is, and enjoying the moment. We had a kick-butt year, and we got it done. Granted, the questions is, ‘Can you get seven’ and all of that. But we had that ‘Can you keep the streak alive?’ thing on our shoulders for ever and ever, that maybe didn’t let us enjoy the moment. We were always sort of looking ahead to what the next year might be."

Other things play a part, as well — including the gratification inherent in returning to the top after two years of watching someone else celebrate, and doing so now as a father with two young daughters. Both of Johnson’s girls are in Las Vegas this week, three-year-old Genevieve and three-month-old Lydia. The walk down the red carpet could very well turn into a family portrait session.

"I feel like we started over with a clean sheet of paper in a lot of respects, and are enjoying it a lot like our first championship," Johnson said. "It just has a little bit more significance and weight. And I think for me, it has more meaning due to the time we’ve had together, the impact it’s made for (car owner) Rick (Hendrick) with his 11 championships, and the opportunity I have to share this with my family. … The parenthood side of thing has changed me a lot, and to go through all this now as a parent, that has a pretty good effect on me."

But he’s far from alone. Back in the days of five straight championships, Johnson and his team just wanted to get the formalities of celebration out of the way. 


"Even in Homestead, with all the photos and all that, we couldn’t get out of there fast enough with the second, third, fourth, fifth one," he said, referring to photos taken following the season finale. This time around, they hung out photo-bombing one another until the early hours of the next morning.

"We’ve had a great time from the onset. What’s really weird is, we really had a good time in the Chase. We just had a blast. Even when we didn’t have the best races, we didn’t have the best practices, we had a blast. This whole season has just been so much fun, I didn’t want it to end. I really didn’t. It’s just been a fantastic year," crew chief Chad Knaus said.

"When we won those five championships in a row, we were so concerned with the next championship. I think we went into this year focused on this championship, and we’ll focus on next year after we get this one done. I think that’s helped us. We had a great time in Homestead, and since we’ve been out here, it’s been nothing but fun. If you’ve got to be somewhere at 11 — hell, if you show up at 11:15, oh well. Sorry. That’s kind of how we’ve approached it, and it’s worked out really well. We’ve had a great time."

That’s saying something coming from Knaus, as intense a competitor as there is in the garage area. There’s just something very different about this Champion’s Week for Johnson and the No. 48 team, even if so many of them been through this so many times before.

"I’ll be honest, there’s a lot I don’t remember about those championships because it was such a whirlwind and you’re so busy," Knaus said. "And there’s going to be a lot about this one I won’t remember. Obviously, alcohol kills your short-term memory, so I’m going to have a lot of things I don’t remember from this one as well."

Johnson may very well agree, as his series of "Hangover"-themed pranks — the film was set in Las Vegas, after all — might indicate. Let’s just hope the six-time champion doesn’t show up to the awards ceremony with a front tooth pulled out.

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Posted on by NASCAR Official Release

2013 Champion’s Week among most enjoyable for six-time title holder 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 6, 2013) – Jimmie Johnson wraps up his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship celebration Friday night in Las Vegas.

For Johnson, Champion’s Week has been an enjoyable one – and perhaps his best since he captured his first championship in 2006 to begin an unprecedented run of five consecutive titles.

“The streak, when it was alive, I didn’t realize how much pressure we were carrying on our shoulders. We almost didn’t get to enjoy the moment," he said. "We were looking ahead to see what the next year would be.

"This (year) is almost a starting over. We’re just enjoying it for what it is."

Johnson and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Lowe’s Chevrolet team’s streak of five titles ended in 2011 and they missed the title a year ago, but the now-38-year-old Californian smiled and applauded the achievements of Tony Stewart and Brad Keselowski from the audience.

The two seasons away from the head table provided some of the impetus for what Johnson calls "a kick-butt year" in which he won six races. Two victories during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup were keys to Johnson emerging victorious from a dramatic and tension-filled battle with 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth.

"There’s nothing more motivating than sitting down on the floor and watching the head table receive all the things through the course of the night," Johnson said. "We worked hard and came back and got it done this year."

One championship away from matching the seven NASCAR Sprint Cup titles won by NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Johnson had hoped to reference some of the legends’ thoughts in making Friday night’s speech. He had no luck retrieving any of Petty’s remarks following his sixth title. The late Earnhardt’s speech following his sixth title likewise wasn’t helpful.

"I expected to see some life-changing thing in there I could attach to my speech; some meaningful moment or whatever," Johnson said of Earnhardt’s banquet performance. "He was just as nervous as the rest of us. He was rattled, got off the stage and walked away.

"I do recognize I’m in a very unique position (that) only two other men have been in. If I can find a way to mention that tonight, that’s my goal."

The week’s highlights included the champion’s media tour, participation by all 13 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifiers in Wednesday’s Fanfest Presented by Las Vegas Motor Speedway held at the Fremont Street Experience and Thursday’s annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon during which Johnson received the Goodyear Tires Award and Sunoco Diamond Performance Award.

Thursday’s traditional Victory Lap during which NASCAR Sprint Cup stock cars performed burnouts on the famed Las Vegas Boulevard and NASCAR After the Lap sponsored by Ford and Coca-Cola wrapped the lead-up to Friday night’s 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards hosted by comedian, actor and radio personality Jay Mohr at Wynn Las Vegas. FOX Sports 2 and www.NASCAR.com provide coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET. The show will also re-air on FOX Sports 1 at noon ET on Dec. 8.

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Don Post wins the award, which is in its third year

LAS VEGAS — Friday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards was jam-packed with presentations but only one was a surprise — the presentation of the Third Annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award to Don Post of Kansas City, Mo.
 
The award showcases The NASCAR Foundation, which was created in 2006 with the mission to raise funds and increase volunteerism to support charitable causes throughout the nation … with special emphasis on positively impacting the lives of children.
 
In 2011, the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award was created. The award honors the longtime commitment to community service and charitable causes by the foundation’s founder, Betty Jane France, who presented the award to Post.

The award goes annually to a NASCAR fan who embodies those ideals.
 
By any measure, Post fits the mold. He was diagnosed with ALS, "Lou Gehrig’s Disease," in 1980 and was told he had three to five years to live. Undaunted, he embarked on a 33-year mission of donating his time and talent to charities in the Kansas City area.
 
Post has rallied the Kansas City community through the March of Dimes. His leadership on the "Bikers for Babies" motorcycle ride has helped raise  $6.8 million toward finding causes and cures for premature birth, infant mortality and neuromuscular diseases.
 
An online www.NASCAR.com vote to determine this year’s award winner resulted in nearly 200,000 votes being cast, a record number.
 
The charities supported by the finalists will each receive a 25 thousand dollar donation from The NASCAR Foundation.
 
Post will receive a new Chevrolet SS, courtesy of Chevrolet, and provide the March of Dimes with a $100,000 donation.

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Johnson celebrates sixth Sprint Cup Series championship at awards ceremony

LAS VEGAS — Ultimately, the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards were all about Jimmie Johnson and his sixth series championship, but there were some pointed jokes and some return barbs before the Friday night program at Wynn Las Vegas got there.
 
After team owner Rick Hendrick, sponsor Lowe’s and crew chief Chad Knaus all received their due, Johnson took the podium to acknowledge those who had helped make his sixth title possible.
 
"Rick and (wife) Linda, you’ve created the winningest racing organization in NASCAR history by caring for the people you employ and treating us all like family," Johnson said after receiving his championship ring from NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.
 
"And I’m honored to call myself a Hendrick employee."
 
Johnson thanked Knaus for pushing him to make him better and acknowledged the bond, both personal and professional, formed between driver and crew chief over the past 12 years.
 
Johnson’s speech was the climax of the evening, but the humor that preceded it often brought the house down.

Comedian Jay Mohr, the master of ceremonies, revved up the crowd with some well-researched jokes that poked fun at Jeff Gordon, Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer in particular.
 
Mohr highlighted Gordon’s last-minute addition as a 13th driver to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, after manipulation of the outcome of the final regular-season race at Richmond by Michael Waltrip Racing changed the course of the 2013 season.
 
Mohr interrupted his own routine with "news" that Gordon had just been added to the BCS championship in college football, that the four-time champion had been added to the Best Picture category for the Academy Awards and, finally, that a 13th month had been added to the calendar, called "JeffGordonary."
 
Mohr surmised that Patrick, who was sitting close to the stage with her boyfriend, Sunoco Rookie of the Year Ricky Stenhouse Jr., might feel uncomfortable being so close to the front.
 
He congratulated Bowyer, whose late-race spin started the sequence of events at Richmond that led to a record $300,000 fine for the organization for being "so good at apologizing for things you may or may not have done."
 
The awards took a serious tone when the top-10 drivers began to review their accomplishments, thank their fans and congratulate Johnson on his milestone title.
 
Kurt Busch, 10th in the standings, recognized the collective effort of his single-car Furniture Row Racing team, which qualified for the Chase for the first time in the organization’s history. Ninth-place finisher Greg Biffle gave a nod to sponsor 3M, which will mark its 10th season backing Biffle’s efforts in 2014.
 
Eighth-place Joey Logano thanked team owner Roger Penske for "taking a chance on me." Logano rewarded that vote of confidence with a win at Michigan and a place in the Chase for the first time in his career.
 
Before seventh-place Bowyer took the stage, Mohr took a jab at Dale Earnhardt Jr., noting in a bogus tweet displayed on a screen above the stage that Earnhardt had asked the valet to park his car in Victory Lane, but that his GPS didn’t know where to find it.
 
"Jay just learned with his last joke, that nobody laughed, at what everybody in NASCAR knows," Bowyer said. "Don’t screw with Dale Jr."
 
Gordon also responded to Mohr when recognized for his sixth-place finish in the standings, noting that he had often considered opening his remarks with a joke, but found none of them funny.
 
"Then I realized that Jay Mohr has been doing that for years," Gordon said.
 
Turning serious, Gordon recognized the accomplishments of Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team.
 
"Jimmie and Chad, and the entire 48 team, congratulations on your sixth title in eight years," Gordon said. "Individually, you are both one of the best at what you do. Together, you’re a dominant force. Congratulations on another impressive year and another championship."
 
Gordon also addressed his 11th-hour inclusion in the Chase.
 
"We may have been a late addition, but I know in my heart we belonged in this year’s Chase," Gordon said. "And we proved it every weekend throughout. Thanks to my team for never giving up."
 
Earnhardt, the series’ fifth-place finisher, delivered his speech with an eye to the future, buoyed by his strong run in the Chase.
 
"As for our 88 team, we have seen a steady improvement each season we’ve been together," Earnhardt said. "That type of initiative is hard to find. It’s my opinion that I spend my weekends with the hardest-working group in the garage. That type of attitude has made me not just a better driver but a better person as well.
 
"I think we as a group are thankful for each other. I look forward to 2014 with you guys and another year of getting better."
 
Kyle Busch, who finished fourth, welcomed the crowd to Las Vegas, his hometown.
 
"I’ve missed being up on this stage and being able to talk for the last couple of years," Busch quipped. "Even though I was gone for a while, not much has changed. Jimmie and Chad win the championship. Dale Jr. wins most popular driver.
 
"And (NASCAR President) Mike Helton’s moustache is still the same… I’m not in the familiar spot of 11th or 12th and already on my way home — I didn’t even know the [Awards] lasted this late."
 
In his last of 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons with Richard Childress Racing before moving to Stewart-Haas next year, third-place finisher Kevin Harvick took time to pay homage to his long-time car owner.
 
"Richard, we’ve been through a lot together over the last 14 years," Harvick said. "It seems like just yesterday I was this punk-ass kid that didn’t know much about anything.
 
"Even though we didn’t always see eye-to-eye, I honestly appreciate you allowing me to be the person that I am. I wish you and RCR all the best in the years to come."
 
Before Johnson took the stage, series runner-up Matt Kenseth, who moved from Roush Fenway Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing this season, offered his congratulations with a pointed suggestion.
 
"I will start by congratulating Jimmie, Chad, Rick and the 48 team … but, honestly, I have to say, your dominance is getting old," Kenseth said. "If I were you Jimmie, I would seriously contemplate retirement. Winning that much has to be tiring.

"Go buy yourself an island somewhere, hang out with your family, find a new hobby, spend some of that money and enjoy yourself."
 
But as usual, Johnson had the last word, as he and the No. 48 team prepare for a run at a record-tying seventh championship next year.

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Posted on by Holly Cain

Banquet attendees share laughs and memories in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – A NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony that started out with fireworks from host Jay Mohr culminated with a consensus and heartfelt appreciation for NASCAR family and fans and a huge nod to the historic and Hall of Fame path set forth by the night’s honoree, six-time Cup champ Jimmie Johnson, who closed out the program quoting the late Nelson Mandela.

Before Johnson took the stage Friday night at the luxurious Wynn Las Vegas  – a good three hours into the evening program – rocker John Mellencamp opened the night’s championship celebration with a pair of classic hits giving way to the former Saturday Night Live cast member Mohr, who proved no one was off limits from his pointed humor.

The comedian took shots at everyone from future Hall of Famers Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon to this year’s rookie candidates Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and even NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Perhaps the biggest laughs came as Mohr used Gordon’s late addition 13th spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup as a recurring joke on the night. After suggesting that apparently NASCAR literally can’t have a Chase without Gordon, he noted there were more Chase drivers this season than members of the Kardashian family.

Mohr pretended to get updates throughout the program. First, he joked that Gordon had also been added to the BCS championship game and would play against top-ranked Florida State. Then, he joked that the four-time Cup champ was a late addition to the Academy Awards Best Picture category. And finally that there was going to be a 13th month added to the calendar, "Gordon-ary."

Gordon was good natured about the kidding, saying "As long as the people at home are laughing. … because some of those jokes are true." During his speech, however, Gordon insisted, "We may have been a late addition but I knew in my heart we belonged in the Chase. We proved that week after week."

Acknowledging immediate backlash on social media about his jabs on Patrick, Mohr backed off his initial monologue. Camera breakaways to Patrick and her boyfriend Stenhouse, showed the couple was less than amused by the jokes Mohr made at their expense.

"I know you aren’t used to being this close to the front," Mohr said of Patrick’s table toward the stage.

And after further shots about them wrecking with another, Patrick seized the opportunity to speak out upon accepting a Sprint Fan Choice Award for winning the pole position for the Daytona 500.

"I’m so fortunate to have so many fans, but it’s pretty safe to say Jay Mohr is not one of them," Patrick said.

When Mohr returned to the stage, he admitted his Twitter feed had been blowing up about the Patrick wisecracks.

Insisting he wanted to set the record straight, Mohr said, "I could not be a bigger Danica fan. I love Danica Patrick, so save your tweets, haters."

Later Clint Bowyer encouraged reporters, "you better get your cameras out because Danica may kick his ass."

As the evening went on, the laughs gave way to poignancy. It understandably turned to more serious and respectful tributes to Johnson’s impressive sixth championship run in the last eight years.

Johnson’s team owner Rick Hendrick congratulated his "hero" Roger Penske for Nationwide Series owners’ championship and called Gordon his "biggest recruiter" for urging him to hire Johnson .

Championship runner-up Matt Kenseth joked that Johnson should, "seriously contemplate retirement. Take up new hobbies! Enjoy yourself! We’ll all chip in."

Johnson would say later that he always gets nervous making speeches, but you would never know based on his delivery Saturday night.

He was truly humbled by the kind and hefty words directed toward him throughout the evening from series sponsors, NASCAR executives and his competitors. When spoken of in the same stratosphere of the only other six-time champions, Hall of Famers Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt, Johnson was truly moved.

"To do something only those two have done is crazy and wild and truthfully we’re all indebted to them," he said.

Then after thanking his team, Hendrick, crew chief Chad Knaus (who sat with Johnson’s three-year old daughter Genevieve at the head table), the fans and his family, Johnson tapped into an inspirational quote from South African President Nelson Mandela to close out the festivities and punctuate the night.

"Sport has the power to change the world it has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way little else does," Johnson said.

"That’s true. And that’s NASCAR."

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Posted on by Staff Report

Popular event returns for 2014 with tickets on sale starting on Dec. 7

Tickets for the second annual NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the Eldora Speedway dirt track go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

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This past year’s event, won by Austin Dillon, was NASCAR’s first national-series race on dirt in over three decades. The half-mile track in Rossburg, Ohio, is owned by three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, who Thursday in Las Vegas won the prestigious Myers Brothers Award for outstanding contribution to stock-car racing. The success of the inaugural Mudsummer Classic race at Eldora, which became one of the year’s signature moments, was a large reason why Stewart received the award.

The 2013 Truck Series event at Eldora sold out of grandstand seating in less than a month. The track has 17,700 reserved grandstand seats, and with hillside seating can accommodate around 20,000 fans.

The 2014 race is set for July 23, and tickets are available at eldoraspeedway.com.

MORE:

WATCH: Drivers and fans
play the odds in Vegas

READ: Stewart wins NMPA’s
Myers Brothers Award

READ: Dale Jr. nabs
Myers Brothers Award

READ: France discusses
key issues in season wrap
Posted on by Staff Report

Fifth straight year of Champion’s Week in Vegas culminates with Friday night’s awards show

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards have proven the adage that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas … for at least five years.
 
Whatever stock-car racing spin one places on the old saying, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week kicked off Tuesday for its fifth installment in the desert, marking a major milestone of celebration in Las Vegas. Four days of glitz and fan-friendly activity with the 13 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup postseason drivers were scheduled, culminating Friday with the feting of six-time champion Jimmie Johnson at the Wynn Las Vegas.
 
"Las Vegas has been home to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards for five years, and each year it grows bigger, better and more entertaining for our fans," Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer, said in May when the dates for the annual banquet were announced. "Undoubtedly, this milestone Champion’s Week will continue — and heighten — that tradition.”
 
Coverage of the awards takes place Friday from 9 p.m. to midnight ET on FOX Sports 2 and NASCAR.com. Radio coverage on MRN affiliates and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
 
Plenty of build-up and insider-style access — with many events free to the public — was scheduled before the black-tie and evening gown gala:

Tuesday — "NASCAR Live" with Eli Gold hosted Johnson in an hourlong, audience-participation radio show from 7-8 p.m. ET (4-5 p.m. PT) at the Wynn Sports Book. The Motorsports Marketing Forum presented by SportsBusiness Daily/Global/Journal kicked off for the first of two days, providing a comprehensive look at the business of the NASCAR industry.

Tuesday recap
Rebuilt Daytona could host soccer, football
Jeff Burton bound for NBC broadcast booth

 
Wednesday — The red carpet was out for all 13 Chase drivers in the Fanfest presented by Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a free event also in its fifth year. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) at the Fremont Street Experience, the drivers engaged in a game-show style face-off with a prize of two tickets to the Friday night awards banquet available for fans. The day also included a reception for this year’s four finalists for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award at the Wynn from 7:30-8:30 p.m. ET (4:30-5:30 p.m. PT). Fan voting is closed, but look for the winner to be announced later this week.

Wednesday recap
Rick Allen named lead announcer for NBC

Also Wednesday, NASCAR.com hosted Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers Greg Biffle, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman for a live chat. Watch that video below.

 
Thursday — One of the busiest days of the week in Vegas began with the annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon (2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. ET, video live streamed at NASCAR.com) in the Encore Ballroom at the Wynn. The awards ceremonies were followed by NASCAR Victory Lap at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT), when the top 10 Chase drivers offered a taste of the race-day experience with burnouts and a rumbling drive down Las Vegas Boulevard. NASCAR After the Lap presented by Ford and Coca-Cola concluded the day at the Palms Hotel & Casino Hotel with an offbeat, unfiltered roundtable involving every Chase driver. Fans can read and watch the highlights:

2 p.m. ET: NMPA/Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon (Read recap)
6 p.m. ET: NASCAR Victory Lap (Watch highlights)
8 p.m. ET: NASCAR After the Lap (Watch highlights)

More from Thursday:
Brian France address
Hall of Fame changes
Stewart wins Myers Brothers Award
Junior ‘most popular’ for 11th year in row
Holly Cain rides with Jimmie on burnout
 
Friday — Johnson and the rest of the top 10 drivers in the final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings will be honored, marking the official close of the 2013 season. Drivers, celebrities and other special guests will all walk the red carpet before the celebration begins.

9 p.m. ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony (Watch live)

MORE:

WATCH: Drivers and fans
play the odds in Vegas

READ: Stewart wins NMPA’s
Myers Brothers Award

READ: Dale Jr. nabs
Myers Brothers Award

READ: France discusses
key issues in season wrap

Posted on by Nascar

Champion’s Week comes to a close as Johnson is honored 

LAS VEGAS – Jimmie Johnson capped off a long day, a long week and a long season Friday night, accepting accolades as NASCAR celebrated the Hendrick Motorsports driver for the sixth time as its Sprint Cup Series champion. 

It was fitting that the night ended much as the season began, with Johnson out front at day’s end. In late February, he won the series’ season-opening race, the Daytona 500. On this night, he was feted as its best for the season.

"Buddy, I’m in awe of what you’ve accomplished," team owner Rick Hendrick said in his remarks on stage at the Wynn Las Vegas. "Your focus, dedication and talent is second to none. You’re one of the best ever. It’s not only that you’re a great champion, but you’re a great role model."

Rehearsals for the evening’s event kicked off the final day’s activities to Champion’s Week 2013 for Johnson and the No. 48 team. Receptions, photo opportunities, more receptions, more photos and a red-carpet arrival followed. And finally, the familiar seat at the head table.

Still, the night was young. Nine others were honored for their respective finishes. Entertainment, a meal and accolades of one sort or another filled the space until finally it was time. 

Time for Johnson to make his way to the podium, time for the champion to be honored. 

It should be old hat for the El Cajon, Calif., native by now. He’s had his share of practice. The nerves remain, however. 

"That’s a terrifying … five or six minutes," a relieved Johnson said afterward. "It seems like 60 minutes. 

"It’s only terrifying because you want to be sure and thank everyone … and not miss anyone." 

Only two others have won the Cup title more often – Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, both seven-time champions. Johnson had said he hoped to draw something, perhaps, from the two when they won their sixth titles to give substance and weight to his own celebration.

"To my surprise, they didn’t have a banquet back then," Johnson said of Petty’s sixth championship season, which came in 1975. "There wasn’t television coverage like we have today … so I really couldn’t find anything on the King’s speech." 

It was easier to unearth video of Earnhardt’s acceptance effort, which occurred in 1993.

"He was just as nervous up here as the rest of us," Johnson said. "… To be honest with you, to do something that only those two men have done is crazy and wild and humbling. … We’re all indebted to them for their contributions to our sport." 

Fellow driver Greg Biffle, a championship winner in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, said the difference in those drivers seated in the audience and the guy at the head table was having "the right cars, the right organization, (making) the right calls." 

And when they aren’t, the Roush Fenway Racing driver said, "you have to find ways to overcome what might be a bad day. … That’s how championships are made, by overcoming adversity." 

Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon, a four-time champion, said Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus are "individually … the best at what they do, but together, they’re just this dominant force and it’s hard to beat that." 

If there’s a difference this time around, Johnson said, it’s that he’s taking the time to enjoy the experience much more. 

"It’s soaking in far more than any other … I’ve had," he said. "I can’t quite identify why … some of it’s due to being a parent now and changing a lot in the last three or four years. … That part of it, letting it in and enjoying it, feeling the applause and respect." 

It is, he said "slightly embarrassing" to have others talk about you, even when those comments are high praise.

"It’s very nice to have the spotlight on you … but through those five years I wonder if I was a little, embarrassed isn’t the right word … I’m letting it soak in now at the end of the day and it’s pretty cool to experience it that way."

MORE:

WATCH: Drivers and fans
play the odds in Vegas

READ: Stewart wins NMPA’s
Myers Brothers Award

READ: Dale Jr. nabs
Myers Brothers Award

READ: France discusses
key issues in season wrap