NASCAR Awards Ceremony

[Freelance Hack]

I've never understood how a sport like NASCAR could hold its year-end celebration in New York City. The Yankees wouldn't hold their ticker-tape parade in Charlotte, but maybe that's just me.

Just turned on the awards while flipping through. Looks like Denny Hamlin got a rental tux for the evening. Someone needs to tell him that for events like this -- clip-on ties are verboten. Even at a NASCAR-sanctioned event.

Also, how far has Jay Mohr fallen that he's now forced to emcee a NASCAR ceremony? Did TomKat turn you down to emcee their reception?

 

[jay_christley]

Um, it's the 26th year the NASCAR banquet has been in NYC.

 

[Freelance Hack]

Um, it's the 26th year the NASCAR banquet has been in NYC.

I realize that, and that why I said I've never understood. If I thought this was a one-time (or a short-time) deal, I'd have said I don't understand.

All I'm saying is NASCAR and New York City are oil and water. They don't really mix well.

 

[jay_christley]

Ah.
Gotcha.
I will say, checking the AP wire, that is one bad bow tie. It's nice to see, though, most go with the non-bow tie look. Burton and Gordon look sharp.
Jimmie Johnson isn't too bad.
Just saw the photo of Knauss with girlfriend Bruna Oliveira. Wow.
[I know, this thread is worthless without pics. I'm just not that talented.]

And, just for the hell of it: Jewel. Wow-squared.

 

[Freelance Hack]

I will say, checking the AP wire, that is one bad bow tie. It's nice to see, though, most go with the non-bow tie look. Burton and Gordon look sharp.

Exactly. I could get three of my fingers between Hamlin's tie and collar. That's a fashion no-no. Even for a rookie. You're a multi-millionaire professional athlete. Dress like you've been there before.

And, just for the record, I don't like the long ties with tuxedos. Just doesn't look right.

 

[Moderator1]

NASCAR and NY like oil and water? How so?

 

[Freelance Hack]

NASCAR and NY like oil and water? How so?

Maybe I'm just harboring old stereotypes. To me NASCAR is the South -- Darlington, Daytona and Talladega. At its heart, it's a rural sport. And the opposite of rural, of course, is NYC.

 

[BYH]

I completely agree with F_Hack, but someone smarter than and far more connected to NASCAR than me--line forms to the left--pointed out all the advertisers are in NYC. So putting NASCAR smack dab in the middle of Manhattan is all about the benjamins.

I also thought NASCAR might be up in these parts to move along the plans for a raceway in Staten Island, but there was nearly a riot at the last meeting to discuss the track, so that's probably out.

 

[Moderator1]

It is all about the benjamins and that's why a few days in New York makes sense. They're not moving their headquarters there, they're having their year-end celebration there.
And there WILL be a track somewhere in that area sometime fairly soon.

I don't understand the appeal but it's definitely there. This ain't your grandpa's NASCAR any more.

 

[TigerVols]

Just read in Autoweek that NYC is Nascar's No. 2 TV market, behind Atlanta.

I'm gobsmacked by that. I would have thought Dallas or Chicago would be No. 2.

I also think Nascar would get more attention if they'd hold their banquet in Vegas.

As for the NY track, the aforementioned Autoweek article says the plans to build one on Staten Island are facing all kinds of hurdles, but Bloomberg's a fan and so is the new Guv.

 

[wickedwritah]

I love how the Staten Islanders ***** about the traffic a track would cause. Have they ever sat on the SIE at rush hour? On a good day outside of rush hour, it might take you 20 minutes to cross the Verrazano.

 

[BYH]

I love how the Staten Islanders ***** about the traffic a track would cause. Have they ever sat on the SIE at rush hour? On a good day outside of rush hour, it might take you 20 minutes to cross the Verrazano.

Staten Island traffic sucks at pretty much any hour of the day.

The stench, too.

 

[Freelance Hack]

Just read in Autoweek that NYC is Nascar's No. 2 TV market, behind Atlanta.

Are we talking in raw number of viewers or percentage of television sets, because there is a difference.

 

[wickedwritah]

Well, yeah, BYH. There's a reason most NYC Republicans (Molinaris, line 1) are exiled there.

 

[slappy4428]

Just read in Autoweek that NYC is Nascar's No. 2 TV market, behind Atlanta.

I'm gobsmacked by that. I would have thought Dallas or Chicago would be No. 2.

I also think Nascar would get more attention if they'd hold their banquet in Vegas.

As for the NY track, the aforementioned Autoweek article says the plans to build one on Staten Island are facing all kinds of hurdles, but Bloomberg's a fan and so is the new Guv.

Ahh, but A) It's not the media hub of the universe and B) it bring NASCAR to a place it doesn't otherwise go, so that opens up other media opportunities.

 

[westcoastvol]

IMO, Staten Island's a horrible place for a track. Why not New Joisey, like Meadowlands-adjacent?

 

[Outta Here]

ISC tried the Meadowlands angle, but the Jersey folks didn't take the bait -- weren't at all interested. Weren't they talking about building some other stuff there at one point (shopping/hotels), and now I'd say all the Jeresey focus is on the new stadium for the Jints/Jets. Meadowlands would, I agree, have made much more sense than Staten Island for a track - but unless something changes it's apparently not an option.

 

[Double J]

Put it in Brooklyn next to the arena being built for the Nets.

 

[wickedwritah]

Staten Island makes perfect sense, especially where I understand they wanna put it -- on undeveloped land, near the Jersey bridges. It's not going in Richmond or anything.

 

[Jeff Gluck]

ISC already bought the land some time ago.