***NASCAR 2003 Winston Cup Awards Banquet Thread - ON TNT FRiday, 12/5 at 6pm PT/9pm ET***

NASCAR.com ^ | 12/4/03

[NormsRevenge]

Viewer's Guide: Awards Ceremony

Did you know about NASCAR's first IMAX film, "NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience" ? Keifer Sutherland FRom the TV show "24" will be there to open the show with a message about this project.

OK... Now some fun stuff!!!

There is no end to sites that have lots of information about NASCAR and all types of racing 2 and 4 wheels.

I want to thank everyone who has contributed stories, pictures and personal experiences this year. I have enjoyed the ride and hope all of you have as well.

[NormsRevenge]

Some random pix follow...Feel FRee to post your favorites! :-)

Click HERE to access the NASCAR photo galleries.

Autostock has done a great job with all the photos for this year's events and the ones I will now post.

BRICKYARD 400
A crowd estimated at 300,000 fans converged on Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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DAYTONA 500
The fans at Daytona participate in a tribute to America before the race.

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SOUTHERN 400
Retired three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Cale Yarborough (1976-78), the only driver in series history to win three consecutive titles, was honored prior to the start of Sunday's Mountain Dew Southern 500 as part of NASCAR's tribute to champions of the Winston Cup era. Credit: Sherryl Creekmore/NASCAR

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The WINSTON
Pole-sitter Bill Elliott leads Tony Stewart through the opening lap of The Winston.

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AARON'S 499
Half of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s eight Winston Cup wins have come at Talladega.

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The season ender.

Bobby Labonte celebrates his season-ending victory with crew chief Michael "Fatback" McSwain. Credit: Autostock

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That's it for me! It's your turn!

Now, On with the show!!! C Ya There! 8-)

[NormsRevenge]

Support Our Troops!

[NormsRevenge]

These are just a couple of threads with photos of Nascar folks at the White House.

Check out

A Day in the Life of President Bush (photos): 12/2/03

or

White House Visit/Reception Today by Winston Cup Champ & Top 10 Leaders

These are just a couple of threads with photos of Nascar folks at the White House.

Check out

A Day in the Life of President Bush (photos): 12/2/03

or

White House Visit/Reception Today by Winston Cup Champ & Top 10 Leaders

[NormsRevenge]

Pingaroo, Buckaroos!!! :-)

[midwestmidnight]

Will be Bill Elliot's final appearance on the podium (as a driver). Won't be the same when he fully retires.

[NormsRevenge]

I hear ya. One of my best buds is gonna be real sad most of next year's season except for the few races when Bill runs.

[WSGilcrest]

[NormsRevenge]

Looks like another wet,soggy weekend ahead...

Congrats on your Fantasy League finish. You have set a high standard for all us rookies to shoot for. :-)

[tubebender]

6 PM PST, writing note to self. I'll be there if the Lords willing and the crick don't rise...

[WestCoastGal]

[Fierce Allegiance]

My Nascar christmas wish is for Mikey to have a more consistent season. A relativcely good first half, and a lot of dnf's at the end didn't help.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Thanks for the ping. I will try to watch if i don't get called to go plow!

The show does little to releive the withdrawal symptoms I am experiencing. I got it bad!

[steveegg]

Year-in-review placeholder :-)

[NormsRevenge]

.. if i don't get called to go plow!

OHHH YEEEAAaaahhhh!!! Stay out da ditches!!!

The show gets replayed on Sunday as well.

Dakar! ... Now that is a long, dusty rough ride! Has Crash Gordon entered it?

[Fierce Allegiance]

I didn't see Robbies name entered. There are only 4 americans on bikes and 1 in the cars, none in trucks (The trophy trucks robbie drives are considered cars)

These are mostly Frog and less despicable Euro drivers, and it's an 18 day rally format race. I imagine he has Nascar commitments that would keep him away.

I am definitley a NOT Robbie Gordon fan in nascar but would love to see him, Brendan Gaughn, or any American do well.

[NormsRevenge]

Earnhardt Jr. most popular NASCAR driver (Flash came in #2)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the vote for NASCAR's most popular driver.

``It means a ton to me to see the support I've received from the fans,'' Earnhardt said. ``I know that no matter how bad things have been in my life or if I've struggled with the race that weekend, it's always helpful to hear the cheers when I walk across the stage during driver introductions.''

It marks the first time a father and son have won the award. Dale Earnhardt was the posthumous winner in 2001.

Earnhardt Jr. received more than 1.3 million of the more than 3 million votes cast. Four-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon was a distant second with 348,629 votes.

POINTS SYSTEM: Bill France Jr., retired chairman of NASCAR but still a power in the stock car sport, isn't convinced the points system needs to be changed.

The system, in place since 1972, with some small alterations in 1975, places a premium on consistency, rewarding drivers who finish races.

Matt Kenseth took the 2003 title despite winning only one race -- the first time that has happened since Benny Parsons took the championship in 1973. But Kenseth failed to finish only two of 36 races and totaled 25 top 10s.

Meanwhile, Ryan Newman won a series-high 11 poles and eight races, failed to finish seven times and wound up sixth.

``The champion doesn't have to win eight races and he doesn't have to win a race in a given year,'' France said. ``But he's got to meet some kind of subjective test where the media is not writing that we've got some palooka that has won the championship. He's got to have respect.

``I'm totally satisfied that Matt Kenseth meets that test. I have not read anywhere or heard anywhere that Matt Kenseth is not a credible champion.''

France was succeeded as NASCAR boss by his son, Brian, who said Thursday the points system will be reviewed over the offseason ``as we do every year.''

AWARDS

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., whose Winston brand of cigarettes has been the sponsor of NASCAR's top series for 33 years, won the Myers Brothers Award as stock car racing's outstanding contributor. ... Driver Ricky Craven, who has raised money for a variety of children's charities with an annual snowmobile ride, was given the $100,000 USG Person of the Year Award. ... Ryan Newman, who won 11 poles and eight races -- both series highs in 2003 -- was given the $100,000 Bud Pole Award and the $100,000 Mobil 1 Command Performance Award. ... The $75,000 Mechanix Wear Pit Crew of the Year Award went to the No. 17 Roush Racing team of series champion Matt Kenseth, while Kenseth picked up $75,000 for the Waste Management Picking Up Places Award that goes to the driver who improved on his starting positions the most during the year. ... Mike Maiwald, engine builder for the Jeff Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet, got $80,000 as Clevite Engine Builder of the Year. ... Jimmie Johnson, second to Kenseth in the season points, was given the $75,000 Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Favorite Driver of the Year Award.

Updated on Friday, Dec 5, 2003 4:02 pm EST

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[ChefKeith]

Bill is going to run a limited schedule next season, so Ya never know what might happen...

[ChefKeith]

Thanks Norm once again YOU ARE 'DA MAN!!!

Great work posting the info.

I'll be back for the show.

[NormsRevenge]

Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch's fantastic finish at Darlington is one of the choices for 2003's "Most Dramatic Moment." Credit: AP

Vote for 2003's Most Dramatic Moment

December 5, 2003
10:07 AM EST (1507 GMT)

NASCAR fans once again have the final say in deciding the "most dramatic moment" from the NASCAR Winston Cup season.

There were plenty of thrills, chills, excitement and heartaches throughout the course of 2003, but five choices have emerged as the finalists.

	MOST DRAMATIC MOMENT

While it would be hard to overcome the level of drama seen in last year's winning moment -- when Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Park walked away from a horrific lap 1 wreck at Pocono -- the choices for the 2003 Fans Voice Most Dramatic Moment are:

1. Terry Labonte wins final Labor Day Southern 500 at Darlington

• Ricky Craven/Kurt Busch fantastic finish at Darlington

• Jimmie Johnson wins New Hampshire following pit road crew incident with Jeff Gordon

• Elliott Sadler's flip at Talladega

• Ryan Newman's crash at the Daytona 500

	Pocono set the stage for the 2002 Most Dramatic Moment

The results from this poll can be seen LIVE during the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Tribute and Awards show on TNT at 9 p.m. ET.

NASCAR.com will also post the results from our other 18 Fans Voice categories at that time.

Vote early, vote often, and let your voice be heard!

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Don't forget the BobbyQ .. uhhh .. Bobby "BBQ on wheels" LaBonte crash with flames shooting out of the car.