Guest Column By Cathy Elliott

From February through November, stretching coast to coast and spanning many thousands of miles, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has raced just as hard as it could to reach its final destination: Champion’s Week in Las Vegas.

Champion’s Week is the top of the mountain, the icing on the cake, the big flashy show tune at the end of an episode of “Glee.”

Scheduled activities this year include the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers awards luncheon on Thursday, where deserving guys like the Rookie of the Year, Crew Chief of the Year and the Most Popular Driver get what’s coming to them.

The Myers Brothers post-event celebration includes a Victory Lap, naturally, but this one is multiplied by 12, as all of the drivers who made the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup roar their way down the famous Las Vegas Strip. For sheer audacity and flash, I guess the Strip figured it had finally met its match in NASCAR, since it shuts down entirely for this cool spectacle. Smart choice.

Tony Stewart has a reputation for telling it like it is, but on Thursday evening, he lets fans call it like they see it at the fourth annual Stewie Awards, where the Cup season’s most memorable, and often outlandish, moments are recognized, applauded and occasionally mocked.

On Friday evening, the Wynn Hotel hosts the awards ceremony, including a lovely meal, some live music and the handing out of a few million dollars. I hear the band this year is called Rascal Flatts or something like that. That’s an unusual name. I wonder if they’re any good?

None of us could get to Champion’s Week fast enough, but for a while, I didn’t think I was going to get here at all.

Travel day began early but efficiently. In an uncharacteristic burst of both energy and adult behavior, I had checked in and paid for my overstuffed bag – hey, a girl’s gotta have shoes – online the previous evening. Too excited to sleep, I was up at 3:30 a.m. and on the way to the airport by 5. No restrictor plates were required at this hour of the morning; I was on Daytona time.

Figuring I had already lapped most of the field, I was expecting clean air for the rest of the day. Wrong. Thanks to weather issues in Atlanta, I ran into trouble in the form of a canceled flight and a long line of disgruntled travelers in front of me, all jockeying for position. Atlanta, I have noticed, certainly does have a knack for shaking things up.

Just a handful of miles from Darlington as the crow flies, I found myself smack in the middle of that dreaded Turn 2 wall. Regrouping was required if I wanted to see the checkers.

Somehow I managed to work my way through the field with some sneaky Richmond-like elbowing and maneuvering, and made the cut for a later flight which at its end would make my day complete.

I went airborne in Atlanta at last (write your own Carl Edwards/Brad Keselowski joke here), and gave a bit of an accidental nudge to Texas in the middle of the trip, where I briefly fretted over the possibility of being roughed up by Jeff Gordon. Unnecessarily, I might add.

I missed out on a few things I wanted and needed to do, but in the end I was safely and successfully deposited at the ultimate NASCAR destination. It can’t last long – unless of course you’re Jimmie Johnson – but for now, I am an official race Wynner.

How appropriate is that?

PENSKE RACING ANNOUNCES PAUL WOLFE AS CREW CHIEF FOR
NO. 2 MILLER LITE DODGE IN 2011

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (November 30, 2010) – Just a few weeks after helping Penske Racing win its first NASCAR championship, Paul Wolfe has been selected to serve as crew chief for one of the most iconic teams in motorsports.

Wolfe, who led Penske Racing’s No. 22 car team to the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series title, has been named crew chief of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge team for 2011. Wolfe will continue to work with Brad Keselowski, who will take over as driver of the No. 2 Dodge beginning next season.

In their first season working together, Keselowski and Wolfe proved to be a dynamic combination in 2010. The duo produced six wins and five poles on their way to winning the Nationwide Series championship. The No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge team also established a new series single-season record with 26 top-five finishes and the team completed all but one lap of competition throughout the 2010 season.

“It’s an honor to get the opportunity to be the crew chief of the Penske Racing No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge team,” said Wolfe. “It’s been a fantastic 2010 season with Brad and the team and I’m excited about the challenge of moving up to the Cup Series next season and the opportunity to continue build on the legacy of the No. 2 car team with Brad behind the wheel.”

A former driver who accumulated six top-20 finishes in 16 career Nationwide Series starts, Wolfe first became a crew chief in 2006 with Fitz Racing. He moved on to CJM Racing in the Nationwide Series in 2009 before he joined Penske Racing as crew chief of the No. 22 team in November of last year.

“I’m excited for Paul and I look forward to continuing the momentum and success we had this season in the Nationwide Series,” said Keselowski. “We just seemed to click right from the beginning and we look to bring that same magic to the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge team in 2011.”

COLBIE CAILLAT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 29, 2010) – NASCAR has announced the addition of multi GRAMMY-Award winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat to the performance lineup for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, set for Friday, Dec. 3 at Wynn Las Vegas. Broadcast live on SPEED at 9 p.m. ET, Caillat will join country music vocal group Rascal Flatts and comedic host Frank Caliendo to create a fully star-studded celebration of the 2010 NASCAR season.
NASCAR fans tuning in live to SPEED will see Caillat, whose hit singles include “Bubbly,” “Realize,” and “Falling for You,” perform for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship team and other drivers who finished in top 10 of this season’s final series standings. Caillat’s album COCO debuted at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart in 2007, and her Grammy-nominated follow up, BREAKTHROUGH, debuted at No. 1.
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony will culminate NASCAR Champion’s Week, a postseason celebration of fan-friendly activities in Las Vegas.

MARTINA MCBRIDE

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 30, 2010) – NASCAR today announced the addition of multi-platinum and award-winning recording artist Martina McBride to the roster for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, set for Friday, Dec. 3 at Wynn Las Vegas.
Known as one of the most spectacular voices in any musical genre, McBride will perform “America the Beautiful” for NASCAR drivers and teams. The ceremony will be broadcast live for fans on SPEED at 9 p.m. ET.
She will join an exciting performance lineup that includes country music vocal group Rascal Flatts, GRAMMY award-winning artist Colbie Caillat, comedic host Frank Caliendo, and a special performance by Cirque du Soleil’s “Viva ELVIS.”
McBride is a four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, three-time ACM Female Vocalist of the Year and GRAMMY winning recording artist with more than 18 million career album sales and 23 Top 10 singles, including six number ones.
“I’m looking forward to singing for the NASCAR drivers and teams at this year’s awards ceremony,” said McBride. “NASCAR and country music go hand-in-hand and have one very important thing in common – the fans. They are the most loyal of any I’ve ever known and it’s always a thrill to perform live for such an enthusiastic and supportive audience.”
The breadth of McBride’s talents – as recording artist, producer, songwriter, and live entertainer – has made her an in-demand performer and personality, appearing multiple times on such high-profile television programs as “Oprah,” “Today,” and “Good Morning America” as well as “American Idol,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “The GRAMMY Awards,” “The Bachelorette,” “VH1 Divas,” “20/20,” and many more.
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony will culminate NASCAR Champion’s Week, a postseason celebration of fan-friendly activities in Las Vegas

RACING ASSETS OF RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS PURCHASED BY RICHARD PETTY, MEDALLION FINANCIAL, AND DGB INVESTMENTS

Concord, N.C. (November 29, 2010) – Racing legend and all time NASCAR win leader Richard Petty is back in the driver’s seat.

Richard Petty Motorsports signed and closed a sale of its racing assets to an investment group comprised of Richard Petty, Medallion Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:TAXI) and DGB Investments.

Richard Petty, a seven-time NASCAR champion has won 200 races, including 10 Daytona races.  Known in the NASCAR world as “The King,” Petty will serve as Chairman and will be actively involved in overseeing day-to-day operations of the company. As previously announced, the team will operate the legendary No. 43 car driven by AJ Allmendinger and the No. 9 car driven by Marcos Ambrose.

“Today is a great day for me, my family, our fans and our wonderful sponsors. Ford, Stanley Tools, Best Buy, Valvoline, Reynolds, Air Force, Super 8, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), WIX Filters and Menards have supported me through thick and thin and I thank them from the bottom of my heart,” said Petty.

Andrew Murstein, President of Medallion Financial, commented: “We could not be happier to be able to acquire these assets together. Richard is one of the greatest names, not only in NASCAR, but in all sports. His name and image are a world recognized brand with unlimited potential to grow and expand in racing. Ample working capital has been invested in the company to insure this great team and legend will not only continue to perform, but will thrive and be back in the winner’s circle.”

“George and Foster Gillett deserve a great deal of credit for running a successful race team,” commented Petty. “They made a significant investment into the business and helped get back into Victory Lane. Going forward, we have put together an all-star ownership team consisting of myself, Medallion, and VeriFone CEO Doug Bergeron.”

Medallion Financial, a publicly traded investment company, has invested over $3 billion in companies since its IPO in 1996 and its board members include such notables as former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, former Connecticut Governor and Senator Lowell Weicker, and another “King” of his sport, Hank Aaron. The Murstein family is the largest shareholder in Medallion, owning approximately 20 percent.

DGB Investments is an investment vehicle of Canadian-born investor Douglas G. Bergeron, CEO of VeriFone Systems, Inc. (NYSE: PAY), San Jose, Calif.  In 2001, Bergeron and DGB participated in the acquisition of VeriFone Systems from Hewlett-Packard in a transaction valued at $50 million. Today, VeriFone’s market value exceeds $3 billion dollars and Bergeron remains CEO and one of the largest individual shareholders.

Douglas Bergeron commented, “With Richard Petty’s unmatched name and reputation in the motorsports industry, I know this investment is well-timed to succeed. We are going to help put Richard Petty Motorsports back in Victory Lane.”

Richard Petty concluded, “Our partnership with Andy Murstein and Doug Bergeron will help take us to a whole new level and I could not be more excited about our future.”

* Frank Caliendo, Rascal Flatts Headline Awards Ceremony At Wynn Las Vegas
* Popular Victory Lap On Famous Vegas Strip Again Planned
* NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon To Be Showcased At Bellagio

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 24, 2010) – The champion is crowned, the celebration awaits.
What a party it promises to be.

The 2010 edition of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas will fete Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson, who earned an unprecedented fifth consecutive series title following the Nov. 21 season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Just a few days away, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week is full of fan-friendly activities that showcase the nation’s No. 1 form of motorsports while honoring its top driver and its loyal fan base.

After a 28-year run in New York, the annual postseason celebration made its Las Vegas debut last year, capped, as always, by the champion’s Friday-night coronation. This year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony returns to one of the city’s premier resorts, Wynn Las Vegas, on Friday, Dec. 3.
SPEED will once again broadcast the event, live at 9 p.m. ET.

Comedian Frank Caliendo and country rockers Rascal Flatts will entertain during the awards ceremony. Joining them will be “Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil,” a special performance of dance, acrobatics and music celebrating the King of Rock ‘n Roll, Elvis Presley.

The ceremony culminates several days of whirlwind activity involving not only the series champion, but also the other 11 drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – NASCAR’s “playoffs”. Those drivers, together with Johnson, comprise the top 12 in the series’ final standings.
“It’s just been an amazing experience, amazing for myself and the team,” Johnson said of his five-title run. “I think it’s been great for our sport to see the comparisons drawn to other sports that have been able to link together multiple championships. It’s been awesome, a ton of fun.”

For the second consecutive year, some of the thousands of fans who flock to catch a glimpse of stock car racing’s biggest stars will join drivers, team owners and industry leaders in celebrating Johnson at the awards ceremony. Approximately 300 tickets are available to fans, which are being distributed by tracks, NASCAR partners and teams through various promotions.

Fan tickets offer the following experiences:
· NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon seats
· Access to “NASCAR After The Lap, Made Possible By Coca-Cola and Ford”
· Fan reception & Red Carpet walk prior to the awards ceremony
· Awards ceremony seats
Following is a complete rundown of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week activities.

Wednesday, Dec. 1
· NASCAR Street Tour: Two tricked-out NASCAR interactive Ford vehicles are scheduled to appear all week throughout Las Vegas with dynamic street teams, interactive video games and free giveaways. (Detailed schedule TBD.)
· NASCAR Pit Stop Tour:The Pit Stop Tour program will run from Dec. 1-3, consisting of Official Partner show cars placed in iconic locations throughout the Las Vegas Strip. Brand ambassadors at each location (locations TBD) will be on site from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for all three days, engaging the fans.
· Chasers for Charity Event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Gates open at 10 a.m. The Richard Petty Driving Experience will offer rides with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to charity. The speedway will offer tours of the facility. There will be interactive displays throughout the track’s “Neon Garage” and live music on the main stage from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. In addition, all 12 Chase drivers will participate in a Family Feud-style game show hosted by comedian Kevin Burke between 2-3:30 p.m. Admission to the Fanfest is free, and mass transportation will be available from the strip and downtown.

Thursday, Dec. 2
· NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon: This annual industry/media event begins at 11 a.m., in the Bellagio Ballroom at the Bellagio and includes presentations to the Champion Crew Chief, Champion Sponsor, Raybestos Rookie of the Year and Most Popular Driver. Fans have the opportunity to attend for the first time. It is co-hosted by NASCAR and the National Motor Sports Press Association.
· Victory Lap: Set for 3:30 p.m., the top-12 drivers will motor down the famed Las Vegas Strip in their respective race cars. Expect an authentic pit stop along the route and two burn-out sections for drivers. Victory Lap begins in front of Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino and ends at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Prior to Victory Lap at 3 p.m., Johnson will receive the Key to the City of Las Vegas from Mayor Oscar Goodman and Commissioner Tom Collins. Commissioner Collins also will present a Proclamation recognizing Champion’s Week and Johnson’s accomplishments.
· NASCAR After The Lap: This free fan event starts at 4:30 p.m., at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and features a question-and-answer session with drivers and an interactive Coca-Cola Fan Zone experience. Select fans will win NASCAR-themed prizes, including a 2011 Ford Taurus SHO. The Coca-Cola Fan Zone opens at noon, with doors to NASCAR After The Lap opening at 3 p.m. General admission seats are free, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Register for tickets at nascarafterthelap.com.

Friday, Dec. 3
· 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony: The big show starts at 6 p.m., crowning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion driver and owner and honoring the other drivers who finished in the top 10 in the final series standings.