NASCAR Awards Banquets: Why Aren't They Held Where They Belong?

NASCAR built their own Taj Mahal in the heart of NASCAR country, near the homes of owners, drivers and teams. Yet they travel far and wide to hold the end-of-the-year Awards Banquets for the top-three tiers of the sport.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards ceremony was held in New York City from 1981 until 2008, when the move to Las Vegas for Champions Week was announced beginning in 2009.  This years NASCAR Sprint Cup Banquet was held at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. The NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series was held at the Loews Miami Beach Nov. 23 after Homestead.

The drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series who make it through the tedious season and become a Chase contender then travel to Las Vegas to join the champion in the week of festivities prior to the banquet where the drivers are recognized and receive some big checks. 

Granted, New York and Las Vegas are fun places to go and even the South Beach of Miami isn't a bad place to hang out for those drivers and teams attending the ceremonies for NASCAR 's second and third layer of racing.

NASCAR is a big money operation, especially for the Sprint Cup series.  The top drivers are jet-setters all year long with their owners and teams.  One more trip out west to a fun place like Las Vegas is no big deal for those who spend a great deal of time flying here and there for sponsors, appearances and, of course, races.

Charlotte, N.C. is a major city in the heart of the south that certainly has the sophistication and venues to host the various events that become part of Champions Week.  Most of all, they have their glorious new NASCAR Hall of Fame and adjacent facilities that would be ideal for the awards banquets for all three series.

The Victory Lap parade with the the top 10 drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series could easily roar down Tryon St. or another locale in or around uptown Charlotte.

All the other awards ceremonies that go hand-in-hand with the Champions Week events could be held at the Hall of Fame or at any one of a plethora of hotels able to host large conventions and massive events. 

At the end of the hectic racing series for all the teams, it would seem attending events and going home and sleeping in your own bed, at your own home would be a reward.  Most of the teams are based in and around Charlotte.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is nearby to host the events currently being held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during Champions Week.

Cost is always a big consideration for NASCAR, especially during the economic times we have seen recently.  The savings to teams and for fans wishing to attend the activities associated with the Champions of the Sport would be immense.  More NASCAR fans are located in the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions than in the desert of the West. 

It has been said, "build it and they will come."  NASCAR built the Hall of Fame in Charlotte and not as many folks have ventured to see it as anticipated.  Expected income for the city and NASCAR has been a bit of a concern.  One more big week of exciting events could bring in new fans and the NASCAR faithful.

Adding the events and ceremonies to honor the best drivers in NASCAR at the end of each season should be be held in the city considered "home" to the sport, in the facility they built to honor its participants.

Mr. France, maybe it's time to bring all of the end-of-the-year awards ceremonies to Charlotte, where they belong.