In the Pits

Stewart reveals nominees for ‘Stewie Awards’

Two-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart announced the nominees for the second annual Stewie Awards, honoring the best, boldest and funniest moments of the 2008 NASCAR season.
     The Stewies were presented during a special broadcast of “Tony Stewart Live,” the weekly talk show hosted by Stewart and Matt Yocum, at SIRIUS XM Radio’s New York City studios on Dec. 4 during 2008 NASCAR Champions Week.
     “After seeing the tears of joy stream down Kevin Harvick’s face after handing him his Stewie for ‘Best Original Drama’ last year, we knew that, while it would be tough to top last year’s event, the show must go on,” Stewart said. “So we’re excited to be back for Year Two to celebrate all the great people and performances from the 2008 season.”
     The 2008 Stewie Award winners were determined by fans who cast their votes online.
     The nominees included:

Best Original Drama for year’s most dramatic moment or sequence
• Ryan Newman wins the 50th Daytona 500 (Feb. 17)
•    Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the Budweiser Shootout for first victory with Hendrick Motorsports (Feb. 9)
•    Tony Stewart announces departure from Joe Gibbs Racing to become a driver/owner with Stewart-Haas Racing (July 9)
•    Kyle Busch wins eight races, including four in a row, but is 10th in final Chase standings Best Stunt Sequence (Hal Needham Award) for year’s most spectacular crash
•    Michael McDowell’s tumbling crash during qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway (April 4)
•    Jeff Gordon hits inner wall at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 2)
•    The Big One during the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway involves 11 cars and collects six Chase drivers (Oct. 5)
•    Brian Vickers’ wheel comes off during Coca-Cola 600 (May 25)
•    Juan Montoya triggers multi-car wreck at Phoenix International Raceway that ends with David Gilliland’s car resting atop Scott Speed’s car (Nov. 9)

Best Original Comedy for year’s most entertaining “incident” or occurrence
•    Kenny Wallace falsely announces plans for his brother Rusty to come out of retirement
•    Goodyear tire controversy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 27)
•    The “Yellow Line Debate” after controversial finish at Talladega (Oct. 5)
•    David Starr takes on Germain Racing in melee on pit road at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 13; to be continued)

Bonehead Move of the Year
•    Carl Edwards pushes Kevin Harvick in Lowe’s Motor Speedway garage after Harvick’s “pansy” comment after Talledega race (Oct. 9)
•    Michael Waltrip Racing allegedly steals sway bar from Roush Fenway Racing
•    City of Concord, NC, flip-flops on its stand against a drag strip after SMI chairman Bruton Smith threatens to move Lowe’s Motor Speedway to another city