What I have to say doesn’t have to do with NASCAR directly, but it has to do with this blog so stick with me on this one.

I am a huge, huge, huge fan of photographer Annie Leibovitz. I mean, I would give my right arm and leg, OK, the entire right side of my body for the opportunity to have her take my photograph.

So Annie was on The Rachel Maddow Show today to talk about her latest book “Annie Leibovitz at Work,” which I’m entirely open to receiving as a Christmas gift should anyone feel like sending one to me, when Rachel asked her how she approaches shooting her subjects. Rachel asked if when she takes a photo she is trying to get the audience to see things as she sees them. Annie gave the best response ever and totally validated my approach to this blog.

Here’s what Annie said that struck a huge cord with me: “You pretty much trust your own point of view and you’re not looking for your audience. I think I learned early on that I had a point of view and I trusted that. That’s where my work becomes strong, for better or for worse. Actually when you’re young I’m not too sure you know what you’re doing at all, quite honestly, and as you get older you look back at the work and that sort of instructs you and points out what you’re doing. It was personal reportage. You pretty much photographed what was in front of you. It wasn’t journalism, it was how you saw things and what unfolded in front of you.”

Brilliant. When she said that I instantly shot up and said, “That’s it! That’s what I’m trying to accomplish!” It’s taken me a while to kind of figure what my “thing” is and what it is that sets me apart, or could set me apart, from other NASCAR bloggers. Anyone who’s read The Fast and the Fabulous for a while knows that I’m not about breaking news stories or talking about stats. I feel like this site is at it’s best for me and for you when I’m at the races telling you guys stories about my experiences. If I’m wrong let me know, but it’s my goal for 2009 to do so much more of that.

I have to thank Annie Leibovitz for switching on the light bulb above my head. Thank you for putting into words what I could not!

So I was listening to the NASCAR channel on Sirius XM the other day and Bobby Labonte was a guest. He was asked how he felt about leaving Petty Enterprises and his prospects for the future. It was funny/annoying how all of the conversations started with the same thought about how crappy the economy is and then ended with the same question of “Has anyone from this particular race team approached you about joining their organization??” It’s ridiculous.

Honestly, all Bobby needs to tell me is whether or not he wants to race anymore, the rest is obvious. Of course he’s going to keep his options open. Of course things are tough for everybody right now because of the recession.

So about the economy and it’s affect on NASCAR. I’m sick of hearing about it. I know that it’s what’s going on, I know that it’s important and all of that, but that doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly depressing. I find myself trying to be extra optimistic about it all because I can’t bear to imagine what life would be like without NASCAR. Did you hear about the Arena Football League? They’re closing down for a year, with the full intention of coming back in 2010. Ew.

I know that NASCAR isn’t the AFL (Thank God), but it’s just one of those things that makes you pause and think about it for a minute.

In other news…

– So here’s a quick reading assignment. Read this and then read this. In short, the guy from Slate.com is wrong and David Poole is right.

– Chevrolet is welcoming Tony Stewart back into the fold by giving away 30 trips to the 2009 Daytona 500 in February along with the opportunity to meet Tony and Ryan Newman. You can also enter to win Tony’s Chevy Silverado. Go to chevy.com/tony for all of the contest details.

Last Thursday night NASCAR drivers, a smattering of celebrities and regular people gathered at Marquee, a super hot nightclub in New York City, to celebrate NASCAR Sprint Cup Champions Week.

Thanks to the great people at Guest of a Guest there are photos from the shindig to share. I’ve got some here but you can see ALL of them over at Guest of a Guest here and here.

My only note about this soiree is that I think that NASCAR should seriously ponder moving the Champions Week festivities to different locations each year, preferably Las Vegas, San Francisco or Los Angeles as I am close to all of those areas.

The celebs in attendance ranged from Rikki Lake to that one guy who was on Ally McBeal who loved women with “wattles” to Samantha Ronson and non-lesbian-lesbian Lindsay Lohan.

Ingrid Vandebosch (Jeff Gordon’s wife)

Miss Sprint Cup Monica Palumbo (left) and Miss Sprint Cup Anne-Marie Rhodes (right)

Kyle Busch and his girlfriend Samantha Sarcinella

Jimmie and Chandra Johnson

Denny Hamlin

Brian Vickers

Greg and Nicole Biffle

I finally sat down and watched the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards ceremony and I have come up with a list of all of the things that I want in an awards ceremony broadcast. Here’s the list in no particular order:

1.) Speeches: All I want to see are the speeches. I do not want to watch a comedy routine or a popular musical artist perform (even though I am a Matchbox 20 fan). I have Comedy Central and MTV for those things. I just want to hear and see the top ten drivers give their congrats to the Champion, recite the names of their sponsors and thank the fans. Boom, done. I have no idea what Jimmie Johnson said in his speech because my Tivo cut off right as the Sprint CEO was introducing him. Oops.

2.) Who brought who: I want to now who the single drivers & crew members brought as their dates. More specifically I wanna know who that woman was who showed up with Chad Knaus. What happened to his apparently ex-fiancee Bruna Oliveira?

3.) Who wore what: I want more than 3 second shots of the women from the neck up. I want full-length shots of their gowns. You know they put a lot of thought into what they were going to wear and it’s a shame for us to not get the chance to see them.

So that’s all I’ve got and that’s all I want. NASCAR should take note for next year.

I have to give huge props to Rick Hendrick for joking about Kyle Busch acting like he’s 18 sometimes, ah that was priceless, best moment of the night.

And to all of the drivers who thanked the fans, you’re welcome.

When they cut to a shot of Tom Cruise during the show I thought my head was going to explode. It just seemed so… random.

Actor Tom Cruise watches the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony while sitting at Jeff Gordon’s table Friday night at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I usually dig what Chandra wears but I didn’t like this pink, fluffy thing; it’s not doing anything good for her body. I’m just sayin’.

2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson with his wife Chandra enter the Waldorf=Astoria for Friday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony in New York City. (Photo Credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, and his wife Ingrid Vandebosch (L), hit the yellow carpet at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria on Friday in New York City. (Photo Credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Champion crew chief Chad Knaus escorts his guest Lisa Rockelmann at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. (Photo Credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images for NASCAR)

(Left to right) Rob Thomas, Paul Doucette, Brian Yaleand and Kyle Cook of the rock band Matchbox Twenty arrive at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf=Astoria on in New York City. (Photo Credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I’ll let the photos do the talking, enjoy!

Priceless.

A Jimmie Johnson fan meets her man Wednesday at Foley’s in New York City during Champions Week. (Photo Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images for NASCAR)