Today, NASCAR crowned the 2008 Champion at Homestead Miami Speedway. The new champion is Jimmie Johnson, tying the three consecutive championships in a row record of legend Cale Yarborough.
So, the championship is settled and the top ten teams are now set. But will they all be safe when they come to New York City for NASCAR's annual championship festivities at the Waldorf Astoria?
The Waldorf is one of New York's most posh and exclusive venues. It has an impeccable reputation for quality, excellence, and class.
The hotel was one of the largest in the City on its opening. It is also famous for its art deco design.
Unbelievably, however, there was a shooting in the lobby of this famed hotel very early this morning. A retired New York police officer, serving as part of the security detail, was wounded in the melee as he tried to foil a robbery in one of the hotel shops.
The shooting took place in Cellini Jewelers, a specialty watch shop located in the Waldorf since 1977. Witnesses say it sounded like a gun shot when a man in a track suit entered the store, smashing the cases with his handgun.
Security guard George Boyle grabbed the robber and wrestled him to the ground. In the process, at least six shots were fired, hitting Boyle.
As he fell, another employee of the hotel apparently tackled the suspected robber, identified as Rafael Rabinovich-Ardans of Brooklyn. Boyle was rushed to the hospital and is expected to recover from his wounds, while Rabinovich-Ardans has been taken into custody.
Guests described utter chaos at the Waldorf as the robbery and shooting took place. One guest described screaming, gun shots, and guests running in panic through the lobby and out the hotel front door.
In just a few short weeks, NASCAR's elite are scheduled to arrive at this famed hotel. Championship week festivities are scheduled from December 2nd to December 5th, with the banquet to be held in the Hotel Ballroom on December 5th.
Will the Waldorf Astoria Hotel be ready? Will it be a safe venue for the top ten NASCAR drivers and teams to celebrate their 2008 victories?
There has been much controversy about keeping the NASCAR Championship banquet in New York City. In fact, there has been much talk recently about moving it to LasVegas, a bigger venue for both race teams and fans.
These discussions are sure to intensify with the recent trouble at the Waldorf Astoria. And perhaps this year, the NASCAR elite will be more concerned about the security details than the mobs of fans surrounding them as they celebrate the Championship week festivities.
Photo Credit: Waldorf Astoria Website
Sources include Associated Press, NBC New York, and newsday.com.
15 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jen Preston 7 months ago
Wow! I certainly hope security will be beefed up when the NASCAR guys get there. Personally, I think the banquet should be in Charlotte or Daytona... that's where the sport is based, after all.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago
Yes, there has sure been talk of Charlotte, Daytona and Las Vegas as banquet sites. It will be interesting to see how the Waldorf- and NASCAR - responds, especially with our NASCAR celebrities in town.
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Dave Gainer 7 months ago
That can happen anywhere, so new york is the place...just up the security a bit and they will be fine..
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Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago
It sure can - but I bet that will increase the discussion about venues.
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Bob Smart 7 months ago
I agree that Las Vegas will probably end up being the venue for all Champion Week events. It has the hotels and the venues necessary. New York City certainly does not. Besides, Las Vegas seems to be more receptive of NASCAR Nation. All New Yorkers do is whine about it all. Having said that, I live a short train ride from Manhattan in Stamford, CT. I will miss being able to go to the events every year, but for the good of the sport......
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Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago
I hear you Bob - I think there will be changes as well. I'm sad they are not having the victory lap in NYC - always got a kick out of the city crowds' look of horror when our cars went roaring around the block!
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S M Napier 7 months ago
It would be cool to see them take the Awards Banquet on tour, to all their different markets for the fans and everyone once in their lives needs to hear 43 Cars rumbling around their block or City near them. Since the Chase or after 2004 I did watch that one, I don't watch it anymore or will see where there at driver wise and listen to Happy talk. But pre-chase I never missed it, because they earned their seat in the top ten and NASCAR didn't pad it for them.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago
Good idea - banquet on the road. I sure would like to see it all be a little more fan and team friendly. David Poole was saying NASCAR should forgo the banquet with all going on with layoffs, etc. - interesting notion.
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S M Napier 7 months ago
Be interesting to see if the big layoffs only effect the teams that have pit crews where that's their only job and do nothing with the cars. Hopefully the teams that multi-task their employess doing multiple tasks can weather the storm ok. Because those guys are more valuable, than the guy who flies in on Friday for the race week and Monday they are back home or working out with the pit crew all week.
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Bob Smart 7 months ago
I think the "Championship on the Road" idea might be a good one. Markets like Las Vegas, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Phoenix and Miami could easily support such a thing. Tracks like Pocono, Loudon, Talladega and other "rural" based tracks would probably lose out, not that there is anything wrong with those places. They just don't have the necessary infrastructure to support that many people, media and all that goes with it.
The banquet needs to be located in a market that gets excited about it, not whine about it. Even though there is a history that dates back to the early 80's, New York City doesn't deserve such an honor. Time to move on and up NASCAR.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago
Yes, I'm warming to this road idea, especially in the markets that can handle it - and have the other amenities to go with it. All the tracks/areas you mentioned would host a great party. NYC just doesn't get the NASCAR scene, as much as the leadership says they do.
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Dave Gainer 7 months ago
Yeah i agree if New York is out the next best place is Las Vegas... but i have to admit when i see those cars going threw those NY city streets its a site to see... Hey maybe the could do and exhibition race around central park ...lol
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Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago
I'm hoping they will cross the bridge and come on over to my neck of the woods in Jersey!!!
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M Brian Ladner 7 months ago
Whether or not the Astoria is safe on any given day, or any other place in NYC, is an iffy proposition. Vegas on the other hand, is well-known for their security. Besides the obvious slip-ups in the "Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, etc." movies, hotel security is paramount.
And Vegas loves a show--they already dedicate the Thursday before the race for the hauler parade. Let's see the top-10 in their cars heading up the strip in the middle of the day--people from all over the West will be there in full force, and glad to see them.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago
Agreed, Vegas knows how to entertain - it just seems stuffy and stilted in NYC. We'll see how this year's banquet goes, right?
PS Just watched Oceans Eleven for the millionth time this week!
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