Guest Column By Cathy Elliott

Las Vegas doesn’t beckon visitors like an oasis in the desert; Las Vegas literally IS an oasis in the desert. And this one is no mirage.

According to the Chamber of Commerce’s Web Site, about 40 million tourists visit Las Vegas annually. On Monday, November 30, a large number of them will arrive, shall we say, much more speedily than usual, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week blows into town for the first time in history.

After three decades in New York City, and with the very active cooperation and support of the state of Nevada, NASCAR decided the time had come for a change of pace (pun definitely intended).

The season-ending 2009 Cup Series awards dinner will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas, a luxury resort located on the famed Strip.

Continue reading “Vegas Vacation Fitting For NASCAR”

DONNIE WINGO NAMED CREW CHIEF OF THE No. 6 SPRINT CUP TEAM

Concord, N.C. (November 24, 2009) – Roush Fenway Racing announced today that Donnie Wingo has been named crew chief of the No. 6 UPS team with driver David Ragan. Wingo joined Roush Fenway at the beginning of the 2009 season as crew chief for Jamie McMurray and the No. 26 team. The duo most recently captured a win earlier this month at Talladega and Wingo is looking to build on that momentum with Ragan heading into the 2010 season.

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to work with David Ragan next
season as well as our sponsor UPS,” said Wingo. “UPS has been a great
sponsor in NASCAR for years and I’m truly looking forward to the chance
to get the No. 6 Ford the finishes it deserves. I’m glad to remain with
Roush Fenway Racing because I believe in the success we’ll be able to
achieve in 2010.”

Continue reading “Donnie Wingo named to chief David Ragan's #6 car”

Johnson’s Four-Peat Ranks Him With Sports’ Greatest Of All Time

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 22, 2009) – By any measure of the term, the “Jimmie Johnson Dynasty” began in 2002, four years before he hoisted his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy. Four near-championships in his first four seasons, including two runner-up finishes, gave way to an unprecedented four straight NASCAR Sprint Cup titles from 2006-2009. Johnson’s ongoing string of success is not only impressive as it relates to its place in NASCAR history; it stands up against the greatest sporting achievements of all time.

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photo

After capping off his fourth consecutive championship season, Jimmie Johnson has put his Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet team in an echelon that includes few others. The New York Yankees (1936-1939 and 1949-1953), Boston Celtics (1959-1966), Montreal Canadiens (1956-1960 and 1976-1979) and New York Islanders (1980-1983) are the only teams in the history of the MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL to win four straight titles. Other four-peat teams are the UCLA Bruins Men’s Basketball team (1967-1973), the WNBA’s Houston Comets (1997-2000), the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos (1978-1982) and the Cleveland Browns (1946-1949) with the old AAFC.

Continue reading “Jimmie Johnson among sports greatest”