Parties, awards, gridlock dominate Champions Week

Teresa Earnhardt, with Max Siegel, offered a hint during Champions Week that she may be turniing over a more media-friendly leaf. AP

NEW YORK -- Although NASCAR's Champions Week garnered more coverage than a typical race week, there are seven things you might have missed.

1. NYC's Victory Lap may be at an end

NASCAR's top 10 Nextel Cup drivers tied up traffic for an hour in midtown Manhattan for a Victory Lap on Wednesday, to the delight of anywhere between 100,000 and 150,000 loyal fans. But not Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has sought to distance himself from the official in his office who authorized the parade on the same day as the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. After a day of traffic was so bad the city issued a gridlock alert, the mayor has called for an investigation into why the event permit was issued for the NASCAR parade. In other words, that's likely to be the final checkered flag after four years of the event.

2. NASCAR's second most-coveted prize

The ultimate trophy outside of the Nextel Cup itself was the 24-karat gold, one-twelfth scale, model of Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, crafted by artist Mike Dunlap. In the past it had been presented to the champion during the annual awards ceremony but the presentation was moved to Thursday's Myers Brothers Awards luncheon. This six-pound trophy is authentic down to the smallest detail. Matt Kenseth, the 2002 Cup Champion, said he had only two trophies in his house: the title trophy and the solid gold car. That sums up how important it is.

3. Honoring the departed

The Awards ceremony appropriately honored the memory of Bill France Jr. son of NASCAR founder Bill Sr., and of former NASCAR CEO Dr. Bruce Kennedy, France's Jr.'s son-in-law, who died in a plane crash over the summer. Also remembered was former Cup Champion and broadcaster, Benny Parsons, former NASCAR Craftsman Truck champion Bobby Hamilton, writer Shav Glick and public relations specialist Ray Cooper. Even retiring driver legends Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd were mentioned.

On Thursday, Robert Yates was given the Buddy Shuman Award for lifetime achievement in NASCAR by the Stock Car writers association (NMPA).Yates, who started his career building engines and eventually bought the team known as Robert Yates Racing which won the Daytona 500 and the 1999 Cup Championship with Jarrett, has turned the team over to his son Doug Yates and has retired. Another retiree, Don Miller, president of Penske Racing South, won the inaugural Home Depot Humanitarian Award for his work with the Stocks-for-Tots program. Both of the gentlemen represent multiple decades in the NASCAR garage and constantly provided invaluable insight into the day-to-day drama we enjoy. Their absence will be huge.

4. Teresa speaks

Teresa Earnhardt and Max Siegel of Dale Earnhardt Inc. invited journalists to a private party in the VIP room of a Manhattan nightclub. Ms. Earnhardt addressed the media for what seemed like the first time since the drama of the Dale Earnhardt Jr. contract non-renewal drama started. Unfortunately, her remarks were off-the-record, so we can't tell you what she said. Don't feel too bad because there were no startling revelations, but it was a good first step in building bridges to the media. Maybe someday we'll hear her side of the story and we'll report it when/if that day comes.

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