[vincesanity82]

It's called the Victory Lap, a run by the top-10 drivers in the Nextel Cup Series through the middle of busy Manhattan. To the people trying to get to work on Wednesday, it went by a variety of other names - all bad. What seemed like a good idea may have come to a crashing halt this year when the mayor's office was besieged by complaints about the traffic jam the publicity stunt created. The top 10 drivers, led by champion Jimmie Johnson, drove their race cars from Wall Street to Times Square at 8:30 a.m., prompting city officials to block off several downtown streets. A few blocks away, more streets were closed for the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockerfeller Plaza. The result was massive gridlock. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Wednesday night he was going to investigate why anyone at City Hall issued the permit to NASCAR. The delays were so severe the city was forced to issue a gridlock alert. According to officials close to Sprint Nextel, the series sponsor, and NASCAR, the Victory Lap may have crossed the finish line for the final time. It's not likely the roar of stock cars will be heard in the concrete canyons again. -- Savannah Morning News

NASCAR's Victory Lap may have crossed finish line for final time | SavannahNow.com

[Quality88]

The mayor wants to know why someone issued the permit.... How long many years has this taken place and only now he wants to investigate and make a stink... what a moron. The awards may be movin to Vegas. I can see it now, all the cars in parade formation lighted up like a Sign on the Vegas Strip.

[Souporscotty]

NA$CAR does NOT belong in NYC under any circumstances.

[Souporscotty]

Vegas would be cool.

[Quality88]

Screw the big cities....

[PenelopePitStop]

I'd be willing to bet that most, if not all, of these complaints came from NYC cab drivers. These guys are freakin' maniacs!

NASCAR? Hell! Ride along with a cabbie in Times Square, then we'll talk! I'm pretty tough when it comes to driving, but I had to close my eyes more than once!

[NASCAR Gnome]

This is definitely music to Bruton Smith's ears! He's been saying all along that a festive event like this belongs in Vegas not only because it's just as good an alternative to NYC, but it would allow many more fans to have access to the drivers! With the huge number of hotel rooms available in LV, it could be the equivalent of holding a convention instead of just a banquet!

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

This is definitely music to Bruton Smith's ears! He's been saying all along that a festive event like this belongs in Vegas not only because it's just as good an alternative to NYC, but it would allow many more fans to have access to the drivers! With the huge number of hotel rooms available in LV, it could be the equivalent of holding a convention instead of just a banquet!

True, this may be good news for Bruton, but have you been to Vegas lately? I was there last Spring. Trust me, it's a flippin' madhouse 24x7.

I'm not saying that Vegas couldn't/shouldn't happen, but no matter where the Awards Banquet goes, there's bound to be an issue of crowd/traffic control. Of course, Bruton doesn't give a rat's a$$ about that.

Beyond that, access to the drivers is not a "location" thing.

New York is a mecca, and so is Vegas, but for very different reasons. Frankly, I don't care where the celebration is. I won't be there anyway.

[Souporscotty]

Would it play in Peoria?

[Bob Tanner]

I think NYC has outlived its usefulness. NASCAR wanted to make the USA aware of it and now the country knows all about NA__AR. To me the entire concept of NA__AR having their banquet in NYC had a taste of The Beverly Hillbillies to it. ("Bill France Jr. loaded up the truck and moved to New York; City that is. Big buildings, TV stars"

New York has one big thing going against it. I recently read that there are only 80,000 hotel rooms in Manhattan and I know from personal experience that many of those rooms are, at best, marginally inhabitable but extremely expensive.

Las Vegas OTOH, has over 180,000 available rooms which are mostly economical, and roughly 15,000 more are being added yearly. Again, from personal experience, most of these rooms are average, or above.

Both are destination cities, and both have vices, attractions and excellent shopping. I don't think either one is appropriate.

I believe it should be in Charlotte, home to almost all the teams and soon to be home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

With the current popularity of NA__AR I believe holding the banquet anywhere else but Charlotte is a slap in the face of stock car fans.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

With the current popularity of NA__AR I believe holding the banquet anywhere else but Charlotte is a slap in the face of stock car fans.

Forgive me Bob, but IMO that's just about the only thing Brian has managed to be consistent with.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Quality88

"slap in the face of stock car fans"
Forgive me Bob, but IMO that's just about the only thing Brian has managed to be consistent with.

...and he does it so well!