Las Vegas Weekly

December 3, 2009 · 10:26 AM

Strip to close for NASCAR victory lap; Tony Stewart hosts awards

By Robin Leach

Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted the Jimmie Johnson roast and a fanfest on Dec. 2, 2009.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

For the first time ever, the Las Vegas Strip will be closed today for a NASCAR victory lap. Plan ahead for the traffic congestion for an hour this afternoon -- 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. -- because the racecars will travel at just 15 mph in procession led by four-time consecutive and reigning NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson.

This victory lap of the Top 12 drivers gets underway with the traditional “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines” and the waving of the green flag by Mr. Las Vegas himself, legendary entertainer Wayne Newton. The starting line is near MGM Grand outside the M&Ms store. I’ll be onboard a follow vehicle so we can send real-time photo reports on Twitter, and then as our contributing photographers edit their shots, we’ll post the best photo gallery you’ll find anywhere ASAP.

The 12 racecars will make two pit stops so fans can see them close-up. The first will be at Bally’s as they travel north, and the second will be at the Bellagio as they return south toward MGM Grand. When the cars reach the Spring Mountain intersection of Fashion Show, Palazzo, Wynn and Treasure Island, they will rev the engines for a very noisy burnout.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Tony Stewart.

Afterward, fans will be able to meet all 12 of the world’s best drivers for a Q&A in MGM’s Hollywood Theater. Then tonight, join two-time champion Tony Stewart when he hosts his 3rd Annual Stewie Awards for Sirius satellite radio live from the Masquerade Village stage at The Rio from 7 to 9 p.m. I’ll be there as the host, as well, with racecar river Matt Yocum.

We will welcome Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards and Brian Vickers. Last night, I joined Jeff and Kurt for a photo shoot at the Celebrity Cars showroom in the Palazzo, and we’ll add those photos today.

You are invited to attend the satellite broadcast at The Rio, as it is free and open to the public. The irreverent show honors the best, boldest and funniest moments of the 2009 NASCAR season, and I’ll grab the mike to turn the tables on Tony and Matt to check on their worst moments, too!

We’ll have our full photo report from the awards show posted here at Vegas DeLuxe tomorrow.

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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