Vegas, baby, Vegas or is it? Champions Week takes place in Las Vegas for the first time, but today NASCAR, championship driver Jimmie Johnson (#48 Lowes Chevy) and championship crew chief Chad Knaus, paid a bit of homage to its former home New York City. Johnson took part in the traditional Landmark Photo Shoot, hitting a number of recognizable spots along the famed Las Vegas strip. One of those spots was the replica New York City skyline that makes up the New York New York Hotel & Casino. Johnson and Knaus also took photos outside the Bellagio hotel and the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign at the very end of the strip. At the sign, which was the champions last stop on the photo shoot, Johnson took photos with fans and signed autographs. Miss Sprint Cup Monica Palumbo also joined the champions for the photo.
Johnsons day didnt end there. After the photos were taken, he dashed to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where his fellow competitors got a little payback for four years of domination. The track hosted a Charity Roast of Johnson, with all 12 Chase drivers in attendance and none held back. Said Kurt Busch (#2 Miller Lite Dodge), I figured out a new Chase format. Every Chase race, we pull out of a hat who gets to have Chad Knaus as their crew chief. Because its certainly not your talent that wins you all these championships. Said fellow four-time champion Jeff Gordon (#24 DuPont Chevy), Man, youve won four straight championships. I used to be the man. Now you got me on everything. At least my eyebrows are better than yours. Said Hendrick Motorsports teammate and 2009 championship runner-up Mark Martin (#5 Kelloggs/CARQUEST Chevy), Jimmie has gotten a lot better looking. As a kid he was ugly. He was so ugly that he had to trick-or-treat by telephone. The at-track activities began early with the Chasers for Charity Fanfest at Las Vegas Motor Speedways Neon Garage. It was a free-admission party for fans, featuring music, food and a Q&A hosted by ESPNs Jamie Little. The roast, held in the tracks Blackjack Club, benefitted Speedway Childrens Charities. The event was shown on closed-circuit television in the Neon Garage.(NASCAR)(12-2-2009)
