What is NASCAR?
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing popularly referred to as NASCAR is the governing body which sets the regulations for stock car racing.
In North America, NASCAR is the most popular sport among spectators and the 2nd most watched regular sporting event on television. More than 1,200 races are held in over 30 cities in North America. These series events consist of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. NASCAR also sanctions 2 International series, 4 Regional series, and 1 local grassroots series. NASCAR events are so revenue worthy that several hundred Fortune 500 companies regularly participate in branding exercises in these events.
You can find several NASCAR offices all throughout North America, including, Toronto, Mexico, New York City, Arkansas, North Carolina, Los Angeles, and Daytona Beach, Florida, where they are headquartered.
Awards were in effect for the following Sprint Cup participants. Here's to these amazing performers for making the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup World Championship a grand spectator's sport.
- Driver of the year award goes to Kyle Busch. He won 21 races on speedways, super speedways, and road courses.
- Most Improved Driver goes to David Ragan. Known as ‘a dart without feathers’, Ragan almost sneaked into the Chase for the Championship.
- Comeback driver of the year award goes to is Greg Bifflewhose rebirth in 2008, after his appalling performance the previous year at Roush Fenway Racing, earned him two 1st Place finishes and one 3rd Place finish overall.
- Most disappointing driver of the year is Kurt Busch, a favourite heading into the 2008 season after finishing 7th overall in 2007. However, his 18th Place finish last year left much to be desired for the 2004 Champion.
- Crew chief of the year was a hard decision to make but Chad Knaus ousted Bob Osborne for the award.
- The much anticipated rivalry of the year award is shared by Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. Both drivers traded victories throughout the season. In August 2008 in Bristol, Edwards took the lead over Busch in the final laps. On the cool down lap, Busch bumped Edwards and spun out. There were some heated words following the race but both sportsmen left the rivalry on the field. It'll be interesting to see what old and new rivalries 2009 will bring.
- Best race of the year was undoubtedly The Daytona 500. In it's 50th year, the Daytona was a nailbiter. Ryan Newman slid by fellow teammate Tony Stewart on the backstretch of the last lap during a green-white-checkered finish.
- The Worst race of the year had to be The Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix. ABC ditched NASCAR for America’s Funniest Home Videos! Of the 313 laps, Jimmie Johnson led 217 of them! And, with one race left, Johnson's lead upped to 141 points. At that point, all I was thinking of was 'Redbull please!'
- The Disappearing act of the year award, if we can ever find him, went to Jeremy Mayfield. This follows on the heels of his departure from Haas CNC Racing in April. What's on the horizon for Mayfield? Your guess is as good as mine.
