Nascar and Racing Nascar Awards

It's hard to imagine Forbes Magazine's newly crowned "Most Powerful Woman in Sports" in a neon-orange vest standing outside Daytona International Speedway directing race day traffic in the hot Florida sunshine. Or collecting tickets from fans at the gate. Or working in the chaotic, noisy mail room -- before computers automated the process.

But that's exactly how Lesa France Kennedy, 48, got her start at International Speedway Corporation (ISC), sister company to NASCAR. Her late father, Bill France Jr., would have it no other way in the family business.

"In fact, he [France Jr.] was probably tougher on Lesa than her brother [NASCAR Chairman] Brian ... just to toughen her up and prepare her, he didn't cut her any slack,'' said NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter, who has known Kennedy since she was a teenager.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR executives and racing royalty filled a ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center Wednesday afternoon. David Pearson, Cotton Owens, Ned Jarrett, Bruton Smith, Glen and Eddie Wood and Ricky Rudd were among stock car's dignitaries on hand, eager to hear the inaugural five-person NASCAR Hall of Fame class.

The room went totally silent when NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter took the stage to introduce chairman Brian France. And in an eight-minute ceremony carried on live television, France opened sealed envelopes announcing one-by-one that his grandfather, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.; the sport's all-time winningest driver, Richard Petty; Brian France's father, Bill France Jr.; the late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt; and champion driver and owner Junior Johnson will go down as the first to be in enshrined when the Hall opens next May.

The inclusion of France Sr., Petty and Earnhardt was a given, it was the final two selections that created an air of suspense.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. has been selected as the first inductee of the sport's Hall of Fame.

France formed the National Association for Stock Car Racing in 1947 and headlines the inaugural class of five for the Hall.

Also joining the Hall in next year's induction ceremony is Bill France Jr., who took over for his father as head of NASCAR in 1972. He spent nearly 30 years running the family business.

Also selected were Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR's two seven-time Cup champions, and Junior Johnson.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Former drivers Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip are two of the 25 nominees for the first NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class.

NASCAR released the two names Tuesday ahead of the announcement of all nominees Thursday night.

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In one of the worst kept secrets in racing, NASCAR formally announced Thursday it is moving its Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony from New York City to Las Vegas. The ceremony which caps off "Champion's Week" will be held Friday, Dec. 4 at the Wynn Las Vegas.

The Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series award banquets will be combined and held at Miami's Loews Miami Beach on Monday, Nov. 23.

"Las Vegas really made it a priority to get the awards ceremony moved there,'' NASCAR CEO Brian France said.

While nothing has been officially announced, it appears the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series postseason awards ceremony will be trekking across the country from New York City to Sin City in December.

The powers-that-be in the NASCAR world, specifically SMI Chairman Bruton Smith and NASCAR, have long bantered back and forth about taking their awards banquet to Las Vegas but never before has the city represented so much potential to NASCAR.

Note to all the No. 48 fans still drunk on three-peat (hey, I'd be too if my guy was the dominant force) -- hold off on the "Miller, you're out of your mind, Jimmie Johnson is 'da best, man!" quips until we get through this, alright?

Because, really, Carl Edwards is the best driver in the entire racing world.

The best, that is, according to a panel "racing jurors" -- let's hope they stick to racing awards and aren't involved in the O.J. Simpson appeal because I have a feeling they'd complement Juice's white Ford Bronco driving abilities -- who named Columbia, Missouri's finest figure* the top wheel man in, like, all of the world this week.

Edwards received the award -- the TAG Heuer Racing Award -- during the opening of the Race of Champions in England this week after those judges "analyzed the weekly performance of more than 150 drivers from Formula One, GP2, NASCAR and the World Rally Championship."

Friday night, FanHouse hosted a marathon live blog of what was likely the least entertaining awards show ever televised as NASCAR officially crowned Jimmie Johnson as its first three-time consecutive Sprint Cup champ in 30 years.

I'll give 'em credit, though, because its virtually impossible to make a banquet entertaining for fans who aren't eating the $300-plate (my guess) meals at an event that we already know the award winners of. The most thrilling award given was a the "Sprint Monster moment" and even that one had its winner (Carl Edwards) unsure if he was even supposed to give a "I'd like to thank the Academy"-type speech.

If you missed the show, don't worry too much because it wasn't the next incarnation of the Daytona 500 and the best line of the night really wasn't even that great. Funny, but not great. (More on that in a coming post)

It is, however, fun to see some of the usually firesuit-clad drivers dressed in black tie formality and to see some other events from what NASCAR has dubbed "Champions Week". So if you're in to that, here's your cup of tea as we enjoy a nice photo gallery from the fine folks at Getty Images:

Yeah, ESPY fans -- all 32 of you! -- sorry about that headline.

But for the rest of the world who more than likely won't be watching the ESPY's on Sunday, ESPN is apologetic of that fact and announced the winners of each award Thursday on their web site. They show gets taped on Wednesday night and then aired Sunday.

And during that show (I don't know if Johnson was on hand for the ceremony or not, I guess you'll have to watch to find out. What suspense!) Jimmie Johnson was awarded "Best Driver". Last season, Jeff Gordon received the same honor, so Johnson is just continuing the dominance of Hendrick Motorsports.

Kyle Busch, who is dominating what really matters on the track, was snubbed for the award along with Dario Franchitti (for winning the Indianapolis 500 in 2007), Lewis Hamilton (for not winning the F1 championship in 2007), and Tony Schumacher (for kicking the rest of the field for a few years now in NHRA Top Fuel competition).

Just in case you missed Friday night's NASCAR Nextel Cup Awards Ceremony, or if you're looking for a refresher, here's a recap of the goings on from the Waldorf Astoria Grand Ballroom in New York City.

Jimmie Johnson is your $15 million man -- Johnson took the stage last Friday night in New York, but walked off with the most. Contributing to his $7,996,421 in 2007 race winnings was a check of $7,317,499 from the point fund for his first-place finish in the Nextel Cup standings. Together, Johnson's 2007 winnings totaled $15,313,920.

Jeff Gordon, in second, took home $10.9 million for the year.

Tony Stewart Courting Greg Zipadelli? -- Before each driver that finished in the Top-10 had their chance on stage, ESPN ran video with each having a conversation with their wife. That was the streak, at least, until Tony Stewart was introduced.

"I'm really look forward to my tenth year with everyone at Joe Gibbs racing with my crew chief Greg Zipadelli, who I guess since I'm not married, you kind of had to fill the wife role in the video for everyone tonight," said Stewart. "Sorry, babe."

Classic.