In the Pits- KSR

Nextel Cup celebrates ’07 season in style in New York

The usual cacophony of New York City traffic noise—the blare of the horns and screeching of brakes—was interrupted on the morning of Nov. 28 as 10 of the world’s best drivers fired up their NASCAR Nextel Cup Series cars for a Victory Lap through the city’s streets.
     With 2007 series champion Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet leading the way, the drivers drove in a 1.5-mile loop through the heart of The Big Apple. The parade started in front of “Good Morning America’s” Times Square studios and finished up on 43rd Street and 7th Avenue in front of the Hard Rock Café.
     “It’s really an honor for us to drive through the streets of New York City and see everybody,” Johnson said.
     A crowd of nearly 150,000 lined the parade route, and ABC-TV provided live coverage.
     The Victory Lap included the top 10 drivers in the Cup Series’ final standings: Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick.
     Following the parade, the drivers posed for a photo atop the Hard Rock Café marquee before attending the Sunoco Checkered Flag Breakfast, which included interviews with New York and national media. The event was broadcast live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
     “This is what’s going to make me go into next year and work even harder to make sure I’m part of this again,” said Bowyer, who was making his first trip to New York City as a top-10 finisher. “That was a neat thing to see all the fans lining the street and seeing all the work and detail that goes into that.”
     New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba presented a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City of New York declaring Nov. 26-30 as NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Champ- ions Week. This is the fourth year the Champions Week has included a Victory Lap, which has become the must-see event of the week for fans.
     “It’s neat to drive a race car through downtown New York—that’s pretty crazy,” said Edwards, who was part of the Victory Lap in 2005. “It’s cool to see all the people amazed at what’s going on.”
     Johnson’s championship week activities continued that afternoon with the champions’ luncheon at the 21 Club with New York and northeast media.
     Other events held during the celebratory week in New York included:
•    All 2007 series champions gathered for the traditional champions’ photo shoot at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
•    Johnson and his team posed for formal photos on Park Avenue before attending several pre-awards ceremony receptions.
•    Johnson was crowned the 2007 Cup Series champion at an awards ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria’s venerable Grand Ballroom.

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