CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On a cool Friday night in uptown Charlotte, the NASCAR business celebrated its heroes, business inspirations and champions on the Charlotte Conference Middle for the primary time within the sport’s fashionable period.
Race groups, drivers and followers gathered to look at these 2024 victors obtain their trophies and to see the game honor these whose careers impacted NASCAR not solely this season however for years and even a long time.
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Cup Sequence champion Joey Logano started the afternoon celebrating his third title with the enduring Goodyear Gold Automotive given to every 12 months’s champion after which later being feted by the game on the tuxedo-and-gown banquet that will probably be televised on The CW Community on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
The 34-year-old’s three titles within the No. 22 Group Penske Ford at the moment are probably the most amongst all energetic drivers, and he’s certainly one of solely 10 opponents within the historical past of the game to have ever earned a trio of championship trophies.
Logano thanked his workforce and workforce proprietor Roger Penske, and the daddy of three gave a particular nod to his spouse Brittany, who he praised for caring for their younger household and residential — permitting him to keep up championship focus. He thanked his household, who was additionally within the viewers, “remembering once I was a child and bought a go-kart for Christmas and now I’m sitting right here a three-time Cup champion, it’s simply really unbelievable.”
“To me, we did get lots of alternatives, and life’s actually all about what you do with the alternatives, you don’t know when they will come your means, however are you able to take benefit after they do,” continued Logano, who acquired a full-room standing ovation when launched by NASCAR President Steve Phelps.
Logano, whose 4 wins in 2024 gave him 36 whole, was noticeably sentimental, reflecting on his profession and season’s accomplishments.
“For those who take the chance that God’s given us to speak to folks, to encourage others to stay a lifetime of generosity, that’s when these situations of simply driving in circles aren’t simply driving in circles anymore,” Logano mentioned, noting the game’s enormous push to assist Hurricane Helene victims in Western North Carolina.
“That, to me, is one thing I’m most happy with on this business and being a part of that,” added Logano, who has personally helped elevate cash and ship provides to the affected areas.
“I’m happy with profitable. I’m proud to be a part of this workforce, however what I’m in all probability most happy with is the center of this sport.”
Logano’s workforce proprietor, NASCAR Corridor-of-Famer Penske, has now earned 5 NASCAR Cup Sequence championships, together with the final three consecutively between Logano (2022 and 2024) and Ryan Blaney (2023).
“From my perspective, Joey Logano was a winner when he got here to our workforce in 2013,” Penske mentioned in his remarks on stage, including, “We’re so happy with all our groups. Racing is a standard thread by our companies. It’s teamwork. It’s strain. It’s integrity. It’s transparency. And this has constructed the Penske model. And we’re thrilled to be right here.”
Past the Logano-Penske dominance, it was an evening of emphasizing highlights throughout all NASCAR collection — these in supporting roles within the pits and past.
The Xfinity Sequence and its first-time champion, in style veteran JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, together with Craftsman Truck Sequence first-time champion Ty Majeski and his ThorSport Racing workforce, had been celebrated.
Allgaier’s workforce co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. was visibly excited to honor his longtime driver.
“I’m usually not this type of particular person, however I knew we had been going to win it. I’m usually the type of one who thinks concerning the odds and wonders how we would lose a race or what are the obstacles in entrance of us,” Earnhardt mentioned. “However for some cause, I simply felt just like the universe owed Justin, and we had been going to gather once we bought to Phoenix.”
“Man did he rise up on the wheel, all these restarts, these had been basic, basic moments and should you simply watched that seven-car work all evening lengthy you would see how unhealthy Justin needed it,” Earnhardt continued. “He carried the entire firm on his again that evening. Simply happy with him and so grateful to have the ability to see Justin rejoice this tonight.”
The game additionally celebrated Earnhardt’s good buddy, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr, the 2017 Cup Sequence champion, who retired from full-time competitors on the finish of the 2024 season and likewise marked the excellence earned by a former Group Penske champion as properly in Brad Keselowski, who claimed his first victory (at Darlington Raceway) as a driver-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, the 2020 collection champion, was named the game’s Most Well-liked Driver for the seventh consecutive season.
“Initially, thanks to the followers,” mentioned Elliott, 28, who received at Texas Motor Speedway this season. “After I take a look at this award, regardless if I win it or not … I’ve at all times seen it as a chance to honor and recognize the legacy my household has arrange for me.”
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Former Craftsman Truck Sequence and Xfinity Sequence champion was acknowledged because the Nationwide Motorsports Press Affiliation (NMPA) Myers Brothers Award winner. Biffle, an avid pilot, flew rescue missions and dropped provides to the residents in Western North Carolina following the devastating injury from Hurricane Helene in October.
“I believed, if I didn’t go, who’s going to go,” mentioned Biffle, who mentioned he acquired 12,000 messages for assist and flew provides into the world for 14 consecutive days after the storm hit.
“I didn’t do something any completely different than anybody on this room would have,” a humble Biffle added.
In different awards offered on the evening, , the longtime president of Toyota Racing Improvement (TRD) was offered the Invoice France Award of Excellence for his contributions to the game. Wilson is retiring after main the Toyota racing effort in NASCAR for 30 years — a tenure that included Toyota’s first Cup Sequence championship in 2015 and two extra in 2017 and 2019.
Legacy Motor Membership driver was named the Comcast Group Champion Award winner for his work in selling most cancers screenings, elevating cash for breast most cancers sufferers and longtime literacy advocacy, studying books to highschool youngsters as he travels across the nation racing.
The NASCAR Basis formally introduced , of Axton, Virginia because the 2024 winner of the celebrated Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Simmons acquired a $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Basis to her God’s Pit Crew non-profit group, which supplies catastrophe reduction assist to households.
The night, hosted by Jamie Little, Adam Alexander and Kim Coon, concluded shortly after 8 p.m. ET with the hosts reminding the group and followers that NASCAR racing resumes with the NASCAR Conflict exhibition on the venerable Bowman Grey Stadium on Feb. 2 (8 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The Daytona 500 opens the factors season Feb. 16 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
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Author : Motorsports
Publish date : 2024-11-23 03:39:41
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