RacingNation.com
Home / Columns / Close Calls / Bows And Buffets – The 2011 Season Comes To An End

Bows And Buffets – The 2011 Season Comes To An End

Charlotte, NC – (December 5, 2011) – NASCAR ended its 2011 season this past weekend with a massive Las Vegas blowout that even Goodyear would be proud of.

Newly crowned Cup champion Tony Stewart did the equivalent of 500,000 crunches thanks to all the bows he took during the weeklong media event.

That’s one way to work off all the trips to the buffet.

NASCAR hopes Las Vegas will continue hosting its final party of the season. The three-year deal between the sanctioning body and the city is up and the initial thought is all parties want to continue the deal.

Why wouldn’t they?

The event draws significantly more attention in ‘Sin City’ than it ever did in New York City. Vegas lends itself to more fan-friendly events than New York did in part because most everyone there is vacationing. The NASCAR season-ending hoedown is just one more attraction to experience.

We’re betting you’ll soon see another deal between NASCAR and Vegas city officials to extend the agreement. After all, there’s no other place that trumps Vegas.

No Home Boys –

The final two drivers in the Sprint Cup division championship chase – Kurt and Kyle Busch – were not part of the Vegas NASCAR awards week. NASCAR only invites the top-10, not the top-12 finishers, to participate in the program with the Busch boys finishing 11th and 12th this year, they got left in the dust.

That had to hurt given the Busch brothers are originally from Vegas, something that NASCAR and the media make a pretty big deal out of every time they come to town.

Not this time.

Both Kyle and Kurt Busch had major meltdowns near the end of the season. Kyle’s erratic behavior took him out of contention for the championship while Kurt’s later did the same. Now, we’re hearing things might get worse for the elder Busch brother as rumors are circulating that he may get jettisoned out of the No. 22 Penske Racing car soon.

Oh well, they are always looking for Keno card collectors in Vegas.

New Stars –

While Stewart and his playmates gave fans a look back at the 2011 season this past week in Las Vegas, NASCAR stars of the future will be saluted this week in Charlotte.

The NASCAR Touring Series Awards Gala will be held in the Queen City this week showcasing the drivers who won championship in several regional divisions this season.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards Banquet will be held this Friday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame followed by the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards Banquet Saturday. That event will be highlighted by championship presentations to Max Gresham (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East), Greg Pursley (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), Scott Steckly (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series), German Quiroga (NASCAR Mexico Series), Ron Silk (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), and George Brunnhoelzl (NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour).

On Wednesday, the drivers will be on tour in Charlotte with a media breakfast, the Fourth Annual Champions/Media Karting Showdown at Victory Lane Indoor Karting, and an autograph session at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Last Call –

If you’re a race fan, you probably were a little lost without a race on the tube this past weekend.

A good alternative was to follow the 44th-Annual Snowball Derby on the Internet. The Pensacola, FL half-mile classic saw 16-year-old Chase Elliott nip D.J. Vander Ley for the win with Ross Kenseth coming in third.

The Derby is the mac-daddy of season-ending late model stock car events and is a must for any race fan.

Our question is why isn’t this event on television?

Sure needs to be.

Share Button