Now that NASCAR has finally moved the year-end Sprint Cup Series Awards banquet from New York to Las Vegas it's time to take it to the next level.
There was a smattering of fan-related activities in the mix for this year's inaugural run to Glitter Gulch. Next year's edition needs to be a full-fledged fan experience.
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| Jeff Gordon enjoys fan interaction in laid-back Vegas. (Getty Images) |
One part Golden Globes, one part CMAs and one part the Oscars, I'd love to see the 2010 version of the awards banquet turned into a rocking and rollicking good time for drivers, crew members and fans.
That would be the next logical step in the evolution of this event, which has taken on new life in the desert this week. After more than 25 years at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York, the banquet had become stale and tired.
Traipsing around Manhattan in the dead of winter seemed to be the last thing drivers wanted to do. Bringing NASCAR to the epicenter of the media world as well as Madison Avenue had its benefits, but as a finale to the long season the banquet itself was a dud.
We've heard a lot about the vanilla personalities in today's NASCAR world. It's a criticism aimed mainly at Jimmie Johnson, who despite his incredible feat of winning a record four-straight championships still hasn't been able to win over the bulk of NASCAR Nation. Many believe Johnson's low key and laid-back persona is one of the reasons thousands of fans haven't warmed up to the four-time champ.
But while Johnson does often appear subdued in his media appearances and public interactions, in reality he's a very funny person with a wry sense of humor.
If more fans could see that side of Johnson, I believe the No. 48 team bandwagon might gain a few more followers.
This week's Las Vegas activities have given Johnson as well as other drivers a chance to provide the world with a better view of their personalities.
Vegas is a much less formal setting than New York and the drivers seem to be letting loose much more than they did the last few years in Manhattan.
A roast of Johnson earlier in the week had shots being fired to uproarious laughter from everyone on hand and the annual "Victory Lap," held through Times Square during previous NYC visits but moved to the Strip in Vegas this year, was packed with thousands of fans trying to catch a glimpse of their favorite drivers -- and their cars -- in a very unique setting.
If the actual awards ceremony can be half as entertaining as many of the events held this week, NASCAR's first trip to Las Vegas to celebrate the season and the championship will be a complete home run.
The perfect foundation has been laid to build a tradition that can be as exciting and entertaining as any race on the schedule.
Garage chatter
• The NASCAR crew chief wheel continues to turn with veteran Slugger Labbe shown the door by TRG Motorsports this week. Despite helping guide the underfunded team to a solid season, Labbe will not have an opportunity to work with Bobby Labonte, who will join the team as its full-time driver next year. Steve Addington, who left Joe Gibbs Racing as Kyle Busch's crew chief earlier this year and rumored to be heading to Penske Racing, has now been thrown into the TRG candidate mix.
• Kevin Harvick's championship-winning Camping World Truck Series team will also be looking for a new crew chief as Rick Ren left this week reportedly to head up Kyle Busch's new start-up Truck Series operation. Ren steered Ron Hornaday to this year's truck title but will now work with Busch on what is said to be a two-truck effort in 2010. Harvick expects to name a replacement sometime next week.
• Several NASCAR drivers and team owners have gotten into the business of owning short tracks in recent years. Tony Stewart purchased the famous Eldora Speedway a few years back while Ray Evernham bought North Carolina's East Lincoln Speedway earlier this year. Add Bobby Hamilton Jr. to that list with his acquisition of Tennessee's Highland Rim Speedway outside Nashville this week.
• Mike Bliss will pilot Tommy Baldwin Racing's entry in 2010. The team finished outside the Top 35 in the owner standings and will have to qualify its way into next February's season-opening Daytona 500. "Mike brings a lot of experience to the table and next year, we're stepping everything up," said Baldwin. "He gives us the best chance to qualify for the Daytona 500 and get ourselves in the top-35 in points after the first five events of the 2010 season."
• Best line of the Jimmie Johnson roast held this week came from comedian and emcee Kevin Burke: "Yeah, that was a great free-agent pickup," he said referring to Dale Earnhardt Jr. "He is famous for being famous. Junior is now the Paris Hilton of NASCAR." I'm sure Junior Nation is not amused.
