NASCAR Sets Dates, Sites for 2005 Awards Ceremonies

New York, Orlando and Nashville will host championship celebrations

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 29, 2005) – NASCAR has announced the dates and sites for season-ending awards ceremonies for its three national series, plus its nationwide short-track competitive level. The run of celebrations will be highlighted by the renewal of a true NASCAR tradition – “Champion’s Week” in New York City.

As it has since 1981, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will honor its champion at the venerable Waldorf=Astoria Hotel in New York City. This year, the gala is set for Friday, Dec. 2 and also will feature the other drivers involved in the “Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.”

Since then-NASCAR President Bill France introduced the sport to New York 25 years ago, the annual awards ceremony at the Waldorf has capped a weeklong schedule of activities and major media appearances by the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup titlist.

TNT will broadcast the event nationally that evening; it will be re-broadcast at a later date on NBC.

Dates and times for the awards ceremonies for the NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series also have been established:

For the fourth consecutive year, the NASCAR Busch Series awards ceremony is set for the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, Fla. The celebration will take place Friday, Dec. 9, and will be broadcast at a later date by TNT.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will conclude its “10 Years Tough” celebration on Sunday, Dec. 11 – also at the Portofino Bay Hotel. The ceremony will be broadcast at a later date by SPEED Channel. The location and time are new; instead of hosting its awards ceremony on the Saturday evening following the Friday season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series now will crown its champion three weeks later.

Also, the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series awards ceremony will be held in Nashville. This year’s celebration will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.

2005 NASCAR Awards Ceremonies Sat., Nov. 5: NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville Fri., Dec. 2: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York Fri., Dec. 9: NASCAR Busch Series, Portofino Bay Hotel, Orlando, Fla. Sun., Dec. 11: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Portofino Bay Hotel, Orlando, Fla.