Day 4: Stewart All Smiles As Champion’s Week Comes To A Close
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2011) – Each crew member from the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet team lined up inside the media room at the Wynn Las Vegas where championship photos were being taken.
Each waited his turn to pose with the gleaming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy from Tiffany & Co. – and the boss, new three-time series champion, Tony Stewart.
Stewart’s smile never vanished, even as the number of shots from Friday’s Champion’s Week finale crept into the hundreds. Why? Well, for one, these were his guys, and Stewart had said that this final night of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week was all for his team. And two, he was having too good a time to do anything BUT smile.
“This is by far the most fun from start to finish of any championship week I’ve ever been a part of,” Stewart said prior to tonight’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, the official end to Champion’s Week in Las Vegas. “I love Vegas a lot. There’s just so much you can do, so much to see.”
This week was an eventful and memorable one for Stewart. He started the week on Tuesday, running through a number of media hits, including the Landmark Photo Shoot which including photos taken at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, the iconic lion at the MGM Grand Hotel and, finally, the Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay. To view and download the photos from Tuesday’s shoot, click here.
Wednesday began with an honor befitting a champion: a call from the President of the United States Barack Obama congratulating him on his impressive feat. Stewart’s roll continued later in the day, as he and Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Ryan Newman won a NASCAR-themed version of the Newlywed Game, which was held on Fremont Street for the fans.
On Thursday, Stewart took home four awards at the annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon before taking part in a number of fan-focused events: the NASCAR Victory Lap, the NASCAR After The Lap, and the Stewies – a light-hearted awards show on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Friday evening’s awards ceremony will feature a star-studded entertainment lineup, with host Reba, and performances by Kid Rock, Ella Mae Bowen and Broadway sensation the Jersey Boys. The winner of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award will also be announced during the ceremony.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on SPEED, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio and MRN Radio at 9 p.m. ET.
