NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship Week - Photos & More
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This week, from Monday November 27 to Friday December 1, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series is celebrating their 2006 championship week in New York City. Numerous activities, private and public, will lead to the crowning moment Friday night at the awards ceremony for 2006 champion Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 Lowe's Hendrick Motorsports team. The rest of the top 10 drivers and 11th-place Tony Stewart are also expected to attend.

CheckersToWreckers.com will have continuing coverage all week long...

Banquet Fast Facts
What: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony
Where: Grand Ballroom, The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City.
When: 7-10:30 p.m. (ET). Friday, Dec. 2.
TV: TNT, 9 p.m. (ET & PT). NOT TELEVISED LIVE IN CANADA.
NBC will air an Awards Special Sunday, December 3 at 3 p.m. AT (2 p.m. ET)
Radio: MRN/XM Satellite.
Final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10: 1. Jimmie Johnson 6,475. 2. Matt Kenseth 6,419. 3. Denny Hamlin 6,407. 4. Kevin Harvick 6,397. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,328. 6. Jeff Gordon 6,256. 7. Jeff Burton 6,228. 8. Kasey Kahne 6,183. 9. Mark Martin 6,168. 10. Kyle Busch 6,027.
11th-place driver: Tony Stewart.
Raybestos Rookie of the Year: Denny Hamlin.
Musical Entertainment: Jewel.

Welcome Dinner - Sunday, November 26


Jimmie Johnson (left) and his wife Chandra mingle with NASCAR President Mike Helton at the welcome dinner Sunday night.


An elaborate layout of food was prepared for welcome dinner in the Waldorf~Astoria executive kitchen.

Day 1 - Monday, November 27

The whirlwind officially began for 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) on Monday, as he kicked off one of the busiest and most exciting five days of his career.

The reason? NASCAR is celebrating its 26th annual Champions Week in New York City this week, marking the beginning of Johnson’s year-long reign and the recognition of all the sport’s 2006 champions.

Included in this week’s very busy and wide-reaching itinerary are national media appearances, activities with the other NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 drivers and the crowning moment – Friday night’s awards ceremony.

Johnson, who clinched his title in the series’ season finale last week at Homestead-Miami Speedway, arrived in New York on Sunday evening, where he enjoyed a welcome dinner with NASCAR and Sprint Nextel executives at the sport’s longtime Champions Week headquarters – the historic Waldorf=Astoria Hotel.

“It’s been a great journey for us,” said Johnson. “We feel like we were in contention last year and the year before to win the championship but came up a little short. In racing there’s only one winner; one champion. To be a champion is so difficult to do.”

Johnson’s Monday began with his appearance on ESPN’s Cold Pizza, followed by guest stints on radio shows and an early-afternoon appearance on FOX News Live. He also was scheduled for afternoon interviews with Forbes.com, XM Satellite Radio and Associated Press interactive.

Johnson, who won his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup title in only his fifth season, hopes this week’s activities won’t be his last as a series champion.

“I really feel we are coming into our prime as a team,” he said. “I am hopeful that as time goes on we can stay in that championship mindset and win a couple more.”


Jimmie Johnson poses for pictures outside the Waldorf~Astoria Monday morning.


Then settled in for numerous interviews with national media including ESPN, FOX News, Forbes.com, XM Satellite Radio and Associated Press.

Day Two - Tuesday, November 28

NEW YORK (Nov. 28, 2006) – “It’s been a good week,” said Johnson. “Today and tomorrow really are the busy days and things slow down as we get closer to the banquet, so I can go out and celebrate a little more with my guys.

“[Being the champion] sinks in a little more each day. I think when we get to the banquet weekend, and I’m able to see competitors and team members, it’ll sink in even more after that.”

Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus, has also relished the time in New York and his new title of championship crew chief.

“It’s been a good experience so far,” said Knaus, who was brought into racing by his father, John, a standout NASCAR Late Model driver at Rockford (Ill.) Speedway and a 1994 NASCAR regional champion. “It’s amazing; this is a lifelong dream of mine. I’ve wanted it since I was a child. My father groomed me to get into this. Some fathers groom their sons to be quarterbacks or drivers – my Dad really raised me to be a crew chief and it’s worked out well for me. [Winning the championship] has been phenomenal. It’s almost like a weight lifted off of my shoulders because it’s something I’ve driven so hard for, for so long.”

Jimmie Johnson’s view from the top of the racing world matched his view from the “Top of the Rock” observatory, on the 70th floor of the historic 30 Rockefeller Center building on Tuesday afternoon. Johnson visited the high-rise landmark for a photo shoot, before adjourning to the Waldorf=Astoria to appear on the nationally-syndicated “NASCAR Live” radio show on the Motor Racing Network (MRN).

New York City traffic gets a makeover, NASCAR style, on Wednesday.

The “Victory Lap,” featuring a procession of the Top 10 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers and their cars, takes the green flag at 8:50 a.m. Wednesday. For fans at home, the event can be seen live on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

It’s a moment not to be missed.

The spectacle begins at 44th Street and Broadway, in front of Good Morning America’s Times Square Studios, and finishes at 42nd Street and Broadway, in front of the ESPN Zone – back in the heart of Times Square. In between, the 10 powerful stock cars wind their way through city streets, bringing a taste of NASCAR’s speed and sound to Manhattan residents and tourists alike.

The procession will be led by 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), who arrived in New York on Sunday. Johnson has taken the busy schedule in stride and says he’s looking forward to a reunion with his crew members and fellow competitors later in the week.


Nextel Cup champion crew chief Chad Knaus (left) and driver Jimmie Johnson participated in a photo shoot Tuesday atop the Rockefeller Center.

Day Three - Wednesday, November 29

NEW YORK (Nov. 29, 2006) – It seemed like a normal race morning in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. The drivers awoke early, attended a meeting with NASCAR President Mike Helton, donned their uniforms, signed autographs, participated in live television interviews, climbed into their race cars and drove off to the cheers of their fans.

But this was no normal race morning.

The setting was Times Square in New York City. The drivers took to the streets of New York for the NASCAR “Victory Lap,” which began with a live national television appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America.

A procession of the Top 10 drivers and cars departed from Good Morning America’s Times Square Studios and ended at the ESPN Zone restaurant, where the drivers met with sponsors and media.

“It’s pretty neat to be able to block off the streets of New York like they did today,” said Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. “It says a lot for New York accepting what we do and how big our sport has become. It’s great to see all the people watching and participating.”

Mark Martin (No. 6 AAA Ford) has finished in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 in 16 of the last 18 seasons, including three consecutive appearances in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. His unique, long-term perspective on NASCAR’s visits to New York – which date back to 1982 – gave him plenty of appreciation for this year’s warm welcome from the City.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of [the Chase] for all three years,” said Martin. “It’s gotten bigger every year. It really gives me a warm feeling about our sport, that I love so much, to see the folks here support it the way they have.

Where past champions have gone before … NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), posed for photos in Times Square after the Victory Lap was completed. During the shoot, a feature of NASCAR’s Champion’s Week in New York for many years, was especially poignant for Johnson – a moment he now shares with dozens of other series champions who came before him.

“The pictures we took in Times Square; I’ve seen those photos with all of the other champions and it was a moment I was really looking forward to,” said Johnson. “We were out there doing the photos and there were fans everywhere, screaming and yelling and getting involved. That really made it fun.

“I think our season speaks for itself,” said Johnson. “I’m more focused on experiencing this moment with my wife, with my team, with Mr. [Rick] Hendrick [car owner], with Chad [Knaus, crew chief] – everything that we have from here on out is revolved around sharing this moment with the team members and with the sponsor. We are one big family and really looking forward to that.”

With the Victory Lap completed, the countdown continues toward the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony on Friday evening. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has been joined in New York by the rest of the Top 10 drivers, along with 11th-place finisher Tony Stewart (No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet).

Next up for this exclusive group is the NASCAR / National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers luncheon on Thursday. This prestigious event, at Cipriani on 42nd Street, includes presentations to the special award winners of 2006. In addition, the champions from all of NASCAR’s other series will be recognized.

After Thursday’s luncheon, all of the champions will gather for their annual champions’ photo shoot, at Rockefeller Plaza. On Thursday evening, the group of champions will be treated to an exclusive Champions’ Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria.

Friday: Johnson and his team will pose for formal photos on New York’s Park Avenue before attending several pre-awards ceremony receptions. Then, Johnson officially will be crowned NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion; the Awards Ceremony begins at 7 p.m. in the Waldorf=Astoria’s Grand Ballroom. SPEED will broadcast a live Awards Ceremony pre-show, “NASCAR Takes Manhattan,” beginning at 7 p.m. (ET), while TNT will air the ceremony at 9 p.m. (ET).


Back row left to right: Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt kenseth, Jeff Gordon. Front row left to right: Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin.


The top 10 drivers got to parade through the streets of downtown New York City Wednesday morning (right side of picture).


Jeff Gordon (left) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. with Robin Roberts of "Good Morning America."


The championship 48 team.


Champion Jimmie Johnson celebrates in Times Square.

Day Four - Thursday, November 30

NEW YORK (Nov. 30, 2006) – On the eve of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony in New York, over $1 million in special awards were presented at the NASCAR/National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers luncheon.

Headlining the list of award winners was Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet), who won the Chex Cereals Most Popular Driver Award for the fourth consecutive year, and 2006 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet), who finished third in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and received $50,000 as the series’ top rookie racer.

Chevrolet received the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Manufacturers’ Championship for the 30th time. Chevrolet teams won 23 races in 2006, while seven of the 10 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers drove Chevrolets.

During the presentation, Chevrolet made a surprise presentation of its own – giving a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette convertible to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson’s wife, Chani.

Other special award winners included:

• NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter, who was honored with the Buddy Shuman Award, in recognition of his longtime role and impact in the NASCAR community.
• Benny Parsons, the 1973 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion and NBC television commentator, who was honored with the Myers Brothers Award, for his contributions to the growth of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing.
• The No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet team takes top honors on Friday evening, but also received several awards on Thursday. Johnson won the $105,000 Checker’s/Rally’s Double-Drive Thru Pit Award, the Goodyear Award – including a scale replica of his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet made from gold – and the $75,000 Sunoco Diamond Performance Award; the Hendrick Motorsports engine department won the $107,000 Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award; and crew chief Chad Knaus was recognized with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship Crew Chief Award.
• Tony Stewart (No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet) received three different awards for his on-track performance – the $135,000 Bank of America Card Services Mid-Race Leader Award; the $100,000 USG Improving the Finish Award and the $75,000 WIX Lap Leader Award.
• Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge) received $100,000 for winning the Budweiser Pole Award and $101,000 for winning the Commit Lozenges Commit to Win Award. Kahne won six pole positions in 2006.
• Mike Ford, crew chief for Denny Hamlin, won the $102,400 DIRECTV Crew Chief of the Year Award.
• Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Power Tools Ford) won the $75,000 Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award.
• The No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet team of Jeff Burton received the $75,000 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award.
• Kevin Harvick (No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) received the $100,000 Mobil 1 Command Performance Award.
• Allstate, the Official Insurance Partner of NASCAR, was presented with the Marketing Achievement Award.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was among the Top 10 Nextel Cup drivers deluged by the media at the NMPA Myer's Brothers Luncheon Thursday.


Jimmie Johnson stops to pose with one of the many Nextel advertising signs Nextel posted in downtown New York City this week.

Champions gather at Rockefeller Plaza … An annual Champions Week tradition is the gathering of champions from all of NASCAR’s national, regional and local racing series, for a commemorative photo opportunity. It is the only time during the year that all of NASCAR’s champions from 12 different racing series are together in one location. Since 2002, this exclusive gathering has been held in New York as part of Champions Week.


First row L-R: Midwest Series champion Tim Schendel, Dodge Weekly Series champion Philip Morris, AutoZone West Series champion Eric Holmes, Whelen Modified Tour champion Mike Stefanik, Busch East Series champion Mike Olsen; (second row L-R) Southwest Series champion Rip Michels, Southeast Series champion J.R. Norris, Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick, NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine, Southern Modified Tour champion Junior Miller and Northwest Series champion Gary Lewis at Rockefeller Plaza in New York.

Champions Week concludes Friday with a final day of activities for Jimmie Johnson, the rest of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 drivers and 11th-place driver Tony Stewart. Johnson and his team will pose for photos along Park Avenue in Manhattan, before attending several pre-Awards Ceremony receptions. The Awards Ceremony begins at 7 p.m. in the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel’s Grand Ballroom. At 6 p.m. (ET), SPEED will air a special one hour pre-show: “NASCAR Takes Manhattan.” TNT will televise the Awards Ceremony beginning at 9 p.m. (ET), featuring musical entertainment by singer/songwriter Jewel and comedy performances by Jay Mohr.

Day Five - Thursday, December 1

NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2006) – NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams and drivers have competed all season long for this. It’s time to present the final point fund awards and this year’s total is another record-setting amount for NASCAR.

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) will collect a point fund award of $6,785,982, bringing his 2006 season total winnings to $15,770,125 – a new single season winnings record. Johnson has won more than $44 million during his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup career. And that’s just the beginning.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 drivers will share $22,081,489, the largest top 10 point fund payout in series history. Each of the Top 10 will receive over $1 million, and they aren’t the only million-dollar winners at year’s end.

Eleventh-place driver Tony Stewart (No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet) received a $250,000 bonus for finishing 11th and his total point fund award is $1,143,888. Stewart also receives $310,000 for winning three special awards – the Bank of America Card Services Mid-Race Leader Award, the USG Improving the Finish Award and the WIX Lap Leader Award – bringing his 2006 total to $8,739,169, the third-highest season total in the series.

Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DeWALT Power Tools Chevrolet), who finished second in the standings, receives $2,841,047 from the point fund and $75,000 for the Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award – to go along with his regular-season race winnings of $6,608,919 for a 2006 total of $9,524,966. It is $102,202 more than he won in 2003, when he was the series champion.

Sixth-place Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), the series’ all-time money leader, collects $1,495,574 from the point fund for a season total of $7,471,447. With this payout, Gordon’s career winnings now total $82,838,526.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 – those drivers who participated in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup – gain the greatest rewards for their efforts, but the point fund is shared among many more drivers, down to 30th place in the standings. In total, more than $30.4 million will be distributed to the top 30 drivers.

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 – Point Awards and Season Totals

Pos.	Driver	Race Winnings	Special Awards	Point Fund	Total
1.	Jimmie Johnson	$8,909,143	$75,000	$6,785,982	$15,770,125
2.	Matt Kenseth	$6,608,919	$75,000	$2,841,047	$9,524,966
3.	Denny Hamlin	$4,389,222	$50,000	$2,168,710	$6,607,932
4.	Kevin Harvick	$6,201,578	$100,000	$1,929,828	$8,231,406
5.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	$5,466,104		$1,645,635	$7,111,739
6.	Jeff Gordon	$5,975,873		$1,495,574	$7,471,447
7.	Jeff Burton	$5,008,882		$1,356,113	$6,364,995
8.	Kasey Kahne	$6,204,222	$201,000	$1,316,156	$7,721,378
9.	Mark Martin	$4,282,548		$1,286,200	$5,568,748
10.	Kyle Busch	$4,821,093		$1,256,244	$5,537,337
1.	Tony Stewart	$7,285,281	$310,000	$1,143,888	$8,739,169

Champion crew chief Chad Knaus (right) and driver Jimmie Johnson outside the Waldorf~Astoria Friday night.


Singer Jewel (left) entertained at the banquet. She was selected by Jimmie and Chandra Johnson.


Comedian Jay Mohr, Master of Ceremonies, kids with 11th-place Tony Stewart about being the 3rd-highest money winner on the season.


NASCAR President Brian France (far right) presents Johnson with his championship ring and Johnson's wife Chandra with a diamond necklace - which she can wear while driving the new Corvette given to her by Chevrolet earlier in the day...

EDITORS NOTE: NBC will air a one-hour Nextel Cup Banquet special on Sunday December 3 at 3 p.m. AT.

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