Las Vegas Weekly

December 2, 2009 · 5:11 PM

NASCAR events include Jimmie Johnson roast, Strip victory lap

By Robin Leach

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The first-ever NASCAR Champions Week in Las Vegas got underway this afternoon with the charity roast of four-time consecutive Sprint Cup winner Jimmie Johnson by other star racecar drivers. Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue is out at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and we’ll post all those photos in a gallery later.

Kevin Burke of Defending the Caveman was a last-minute emcee replacement for Carrot Top due to the unexpected death of his grandmother. Roast tickets for the Blackjack Club event were free with a $250 donation to the Speedway Children’s Charities and shown over closed-circuit TV to the Neon Garage area set up with displays, music and other concessions.

Tomorrow, in another first, the Strip will be closed mid-afternoon for a victory lap of the 12 star drivers of the season led by Jimmie. The unique race at 12 mph will follow the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards in The Venetian Showroom. It recognizes series award winners, including drivers, crewmembers, teams and industry icons.

You can attend the victory lap, and entertainment legend Wayne Newton will wave the green flag at 3:30 p.m. at the M&Ms store alongside the MGM Grand to start the event. Drivers will head north to Spring Mountain Road before returning to MGM. There will be two pit stops along the route. The first six drivers will make a two-tire change on the east side of the Strip outside Bally’s, and the second six showcase drivers will stop in front of the Bellagio fountains. As they make the turn at the intersection of the Palazzo, Wynn, Fashion Island and Treasure Island, they will treat fans to a revved up engine burnout. Fans may attend a Q&A with the drivers at MGM’s Hollywood Theater after the victory lap.

Tomorrow night, two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart will host the 3rd Annual Stewie Awards honoring the most memorable moments of the Sprint Cup season. Matt Yocum and I will join him for the live broadcast at 7 p.m. from the Masquerade Village stage at The Rio. We’ll host Jimmie and numerous other drivers during the 120-minute broadcast, which is open to the public and free. You can see the nominees in advance at Sirius.com/StewieAwards.

Champions Week wraps Friday evening with another first. Fans will be able to join drivers, team owners and industry leaders in celebrating the Sprint Cup Series champion. The drivers attending the triumphant crowning will be Jimmie, Tony, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin and many more. Monte Carlo headliner impressionist Frank Caliendo will host the awards. Entertainment will feature country music kings Brooks & Dunn, singer David Gray, string quartet Escala (who won raves on Britain’s Got Talent) and comedy actor John Pionette.

You can bet our local Las Vegas Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith will be visible throughout and pushing NASCAR officials to give Las Vegas a second NASCAR race and keep Champions Week here after years in New York City. We’ll have coverage of all the events and star driver interviews right here at Vegas DeLuxe.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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