The debut of the NASCAR banquet in Las Vegas was a combination of cheers, tears, laughs and fans. For the first time in 28 years NASCAR’s annual awards banquet wasn’t held in New York and was open to fans through a program of racetrack lotteries.
The crowded but elegant Waldorf Astoria ball room was replaced by the spacious and glitzy Wynn. In a night of celebrations of Jimmie Johnson’s record setting fourth-straight Sprint Cup Championship, there was high emotion, too.
NASCAR President Mike Helton introduced Betty Jane France, the widow of Bill France Jr. to award winning car owner, Rick Hendrick, NASCAR’s honest honor, the Bill France Award of Excellence.
The usually composed Hendrick started to tear up. "My speech, I don't think I'll be able to do it," he said. But, he soldiered on and thanked those in the ballroom for all their contributions.
There were 1200 invited guests and 300 fans separated by a velvet rope. Security was extremely tight as all guests, including NASCAR CEO Brian France, were screened with a hand-held metal detector.
Comparing the two venues one-time Sprint Cup Champion, and Las Vegas native, Kurt Busch said "We go to New York to celebrate," Busch said early in Wednesday's roast of Johnson. "We go to Vegas to party!"
The awards ceremony was preceded by the musical groups and a comedian who skewered the drivers and owners with his sharp wit.
The top ten drivers gave speeches thanking sponsors, teammates, and spouses. Two-time Champion Tony Stewart joked he'd like to contribute to Johnson retirement or vacation fund.
At the end of the four-hour affair (which ended on the East Coast at 2AM) Johnson received a champion’s check for $6.6 million (USD) and through the gauntlet at his rivals, "We've won four. Let's see if we can win five," he said.
The crowded but elegant Waldorf Astoria ball room was replaced by the spacious and glitzy Wynn. In a night of celebrations of Jimmie Johnson’s record setting fourth-straight Sprint Cup Championship, there was high emotion, too.
NASCAR President Mike Helton introduced Betty Jane France, the widow of Bill France Jr. to award winning car owner, Rick Hendrick, NASCAR’s honest honor, the Bill France Award of Excellence.
The usually composed Hendrick started to tear up. "My speech, I don't think I'll be able to do it," he said. But, he soldiered on and thanked those in the ballroom for all their contributions.
There were 1200 invited guests and 300 fans separated by a velvet rope. Security was extremely tight as all guests, including NASCAR CEO Brian France, were screened with a hand-held metal detector.
Comparing the two venues one-time Sprint Cup Champion, and Las Vegas native, Kurt Busch said "We go to New York to celebrate," Busch said early in Wednesday's roast of Johnson. "We go to Vegas to party!"
The awards ceremony was preceded by the musical groups and a comedian who skewered the drivers and owners with his sharp wit.
The top ten drivers gave speeches thanking sponsors, teammates, and spouses. Two-time Champion Tony Stewart joked he'd like to contribute to Johnson retirement or vacation fund.
At the end of the four-hour affair (which ended on the East Coast at 2AM) Johnson received a champion’s check for $6.6 million (USD) and through the gauntlet at his rivals, "We've won four. Let's see if we can win five," he said.