Jimmie Johnson and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup crowd will be sporting their best haircuts this week as they invade New York City for a public relations blitz prior to Friday’s 2008 season awards program at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The event will mark the 28th-straight year NASCAR has held the media fest in The Big Apple.
Meanwhile, in the backwater outpost of Pensacola, FL, more than 200 drivers and teams will take over Five Flags Speedway Thursday through Sunday for the 41st-Annual Snowball Derby.
We have to admit that New York City is one of our favorite places on earth, but watching Jimmie tour the city eating or getting his picture taken (or both at the same time) isn’t exactly exciting stuff. On the other hand, seeing six divisions of racing climaxing with arguably the greatest Super Late Model stock car short-track event of the year on Sunday pegs the excitement meter for us.
Here’s a look at both events –
Wednesday
Jimmie and Chandra (Johnson’s wife) begin their third day of media appearances (they started on Monday) by ringing the New York Stock Exchange’s Opening Bell. The always heart-pounding Tissot Countdown Clock event at the Marquee of the Hard Rock Caf
John Close covered his first NASCAR race in 1986 at Bristol. Since then, Close – a former Associated Press newspaper sports editor – has written countless articles for numerous motorsports magazines, trade publications and Internet sites.
His Close Calls column appears each week on www.CloseFinishes.com, www.MotorsportsAmerica.com and www.RacingNation.com.
Close has also authored two books – Tony Stewart – From Indy Phenom To NASCAR Superstar and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – From Desert Dust To Superspeedways.
Close is a weekly guest every Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tradin’ Paint on NASCAR SIRIUS Channel 90.
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Close CallsJohn CloseNASCAR