Friday was of course the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony at the Wynn in Las Vegas. I woke up that morning with a slight hangover from the previous night’s festivities. I spent the majority of the morning willing myself to feel normal and to not vomit even though vomiting probably would have made me feel better, but whatever. I went down to Carnegie Deli and got their chicken soup, which helped tremendously.

That morning I had to go over to the Wynn (I stayed at the Mirage Thursday and Friday, and Harrah’s on Wednesday) to pick up my ticket to the banquet. Passing through the lobby I caught sight of Ron Malec, car chief of the no. 48 Lowe’s team, taking pictures with his girlfriend.

Along with the ticket to the event that told me my table number for the night, I also got to pick up the wristband to get me into the after party and a mini replica of the Sprint Cup Championship trophy. It’s as cute and cool as you’d expect, and it also doubles as a paper weight.

After picking up my golden ticket I went to the Fashion Show Mall across the street from the Wynn to look for a hair accessory that I never found, but on my way I passed by Ford’s outdoor NASCAR display where they had Greg Biffle’s No. 16 3M Ford Fusion parked. There was a very, very flexible chick dressed in a blue leotard contorting herself into positions that looked very painful on top of an SUV next to Greg’s car. Ford. Drive One.

It took awhile for me to not find what I was hoping to find, so I headed back to my room to take a break before going over to the MAC Cosmetics store inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. I don’t know if you know this but for $50 you can have a professional makeup artist do your makeup and you get free mascara. (You can also get makeup application lessons too, very cool)

So that’s what I did, an awesome young woman did my makeup. I can’t remember her name and I totally apologize if she’s reading this!! She did a great job, so much so that I really didn’t want to wash it off.

Once my makeup, fake eyelashes and all, was set I hightailed it back to my room to change into my dress: a green, gold and brown silk printed halter-style dress I found at BCBG Max Azria.

That night I intended to do a lot of things, like take my cell phone with me and take great photos of myself in my dress. But my nerves got the best of me and I took some ok photos of myself and left my cell phone in my room. The battery was really low on my phone and I decided to just let it charge and then grab it after the banquet and bring it to the after party. In hindsight I really should have just brought it with me. But I was all worried about being late, and what the whole red carpet deal would be like that I figured I’d be ok. I know this makes no sense, but I was not calm.

Anyway, when I arrived at the Wynn and walked down the hallway it was neat to see the fans that had lined the walls in hopes of seeing the drivers. As I neared the red carpet I checked with some NASCAR officials to see where I could stand on the red carpet to take pictures. I followed the line of photographers, national and local media, and stood down at the end.

There were huge TV screens above the red carpet that had a clock counting down the time until the ceremony was to start. With about 40 minutes left only a couple people had come down the carpet and neither of them were drivers. I got to see singer/songwriter David Gray. I didn’t realize he was so cute, from a distance he really looked a lot like Heath Ledger.

Krista Voda and Mike Joy made their way down and I have to say that Krista’s purple gown was one of the best dresses I saw that night. She looked amazing. It was hard to get a good shot of it from where I was at the time.

With close to 20 minutes left people started to come down the carpet faster. I was there for Greg & Nicole Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Jimmie & Chandra Johnson.

I ditched the carpet with 15 minutes left on the clock and headed inside to find my table. I didn’t know who I would be seated with, and it turned out to be an all media table. Claire B. Lang from Sirius Satellite Radio introduced herself to me, as well as writer Cathy Elliott and Nate Ryan of USA Today. I readily admit that I suck at introducing myself to people first. I am a shy person, and after the night I’d had the day before the idea of sucking down some liquid courage (aka alcohol) was out of the question at that point in time. But they were all very nice.

It was cool to be able to have that opportunity to sit at that table at all. I definitely appreciated the value of getting to be there.

Our table was close to back of the room, before the group of tables that consisted of all of the fans that were in attendance. So it was hard to see the stage, but there were huge screens lining the walls so you could see everything no matter where you were seated or what direction you were facing.

I thought the electric string quartet Escala was awesome. I loved that they opened the show from the middle of the ballroom. I was afraid that the evening might drag, but for the most part it ran right along at a steady pace. David Gray was amazing, his voice was perfection and I fully intend to pick up his latest CD, “Draw the Line.”

I was pleasantly surprised that Frank Caliendo didn’t suck. I was afraid he would just do those voice impressions without actual jokes, but he had a lot of great ones. All of his Chris Myers stuff was awesome and his Dr. Phil bit was great. I was only 2 tables down and one back from Michael Waltrip so I had a clear view of his expression when Caliendo’s Dr. Phil questioned why Mikey had been running what looked like a half-season this year when it was supposed to be a full one. I don’t know if Mikey listens to Lady Gaga but his “poker face” was on point because his expression didn’t break at all. He didn’t frown, but he didn’t laugh either. So awesome.

Dinner itself was yummy. On the menu was a chopped salad to start, a main course of braised short ribs and lobster lasagna, and then a crispy milk chocolate caramel bar for dessert (pictured left). Everything was very tasty, but I think the cookies & cream ice cream that came with the caramel bar was my favorite part.

Of the speeches given by the top-10 drivers Mark Martin’s was the best. I knew he would make me cry, although I wasn’t expecting it to be from his romantic words for his wife, Arlene. Seriously, does it get any sweeter than that?? He still gets butterflies all these years after they met. *sigh* Can I please find a guy that will love me half as much as Mark Martin does his wife? Seriously.

I don’t have to tell you how the awards went down, you could see it all on TV. Once the banquet ended the Sprint Champion’s Party at Lavo in the Palazzo begun. Because I had been wearing heels all three days I had been in Vegas I was over the whole thing and really wanted my Converse All-Stars. So I went back to my room and changed into jeans and sweater and my Chucks, but then I realized this looked slightly weird with full-on makeup. I decided I didn’t care and went over to the party anyway.

Once I got there I felt awkward for two reasons, 1) everybody else was pretty much still in their banquet clothes and 2) I didn’t see anyone I knew. I went inside and we were all led upstairs to a bar and lounge area where it was packed with people. I did walk around the dimly lit room and decided to find the bar, but the bar was packed too and I figured it was pointless and I should just go back to my hotel.

Upon making this decision I saw Tony Hawk, the legendary professional skateboarder. I couldn’t let the moment pass without saying hello to him, so I went over to him and his wife, said “Hi” and shook his hand. I asked him if he was a racing fan (which was my way of saying “what are you doing here?”) and he said that they’re friends with Jimmie Johnson. I just thought it was really cool that he was there, period, and basically told him as much. Then I headed for the exit, although not without one of the bouncer dudes asking “You’re leaving already??”

And with that I said yes and took solace at the Starbucks inside the Mirage.

Yet again in hindsight of course I should have just gone straight to party so that I could grab a spot on a couch and pick up a Cosmo before everyone else arrived, but whatever. There’s always next year right?

Stay tuned for more stories from Champion’s Week!!

The Red Carpet

Kasey Kahne

Jimmie & Chandra Johnson

David Gray

Chandra Johnson
She is a total pro at working the red carpet and posing for the photographers.

Greg & Nicole Biffle

All photos credit: The Fast and the Fabulous

My Daytona highlights:

– FOX NASCAR racing analysts Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip laugh every time the Digger graphic comes up. I find it funny that they find it so funny.

– All of the NASCAR kids and babies on pit road during the invocation and National Anthem made my entire reproductive system want to explode from their cuteness. How adorable was Macey Waltrip helping her dad get settled into his car?

– Julianne Hough was supposed to sing the National Anthem but she came down with the flu and couldn’t travel. In her place they were able to secure singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw who gave the most pitiful anthem performance ever. I like Gavin DeGraw in general but this was definitely not one of his best performances.

– Keith Urban performed a lot on Sunday. He performed acoustically at a press conference for the media (lucky nerds!) and then for everyone else with his full band behind him before the start of the race. Apparently Keith brought his wife, a little known Australian actress named Nicole Kidman, with him. If that doesn’t blow your mind enough Nicole’s ex-husband Tom Cruise was on hand to lead the field to the green flag in the pace car. I guess we should just call it a Days of Thunder reunion party. Side note: I have yet to watch Days of Thunder all the way through, but I have been on the ride at Great America.

Overall the Daytona 500 was a big ol’ anticlimactic mess for me. I mean, Matt Kenseth is cool and all but races that end with a red flag are just no good. It left me feeling gypped and bored with leftover 5-layer dip.

Oh, one more thing, speaking of Mr. Kenseth he’ll be in San Francisco this Wednesday for all of you Bay Area NASCAR fans:

Fans can see the winner of Sunday’s Daytona 500 this Wednesday at Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park at 12:30 p.m. during a fan rally and press conference. Matt Kenseth will be on-hand after taking a Victory Tour through the Streets of San Francisco on a motorized cable car. This marks the first time a Daytona 500 winner has visited SF. The day signals the Official Countdown to the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR race at Infineon Raceway in June.

Photo fun time!

Some might say Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, may have had a couple of good luck charms Thursday at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel 1. Wife Ingrid Vandebosch and daughter Ella Sophia hang out with the four-time NASCAR champion the grid prior to the race at Daytona International Speedway that he won. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Don’t tap on the glass, they hate that.

Three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon signs autographs for fans during the final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice on Saturday for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Country star Keith Urban performs a pre-race concert prior to the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Matt Kenseth celebrates winning the 51st running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Kenseth became the 33rd different driver to win “The Great American Race.” (Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Steve and Christine Deuker meet NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman (center) on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. The Deukers honored Newman and their son, who passed away in 2001, by buying a brick from the NASCAR Hall of Fame. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Tom Cruise climbs into the pace car for some practice laps around Daytona International Speedway. Cruise led the Daytona 500 to the green flag in the pace car. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart reads a Valentine’s Day card before getting into his car for the final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice for the Daytona 500 on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I’m shocked that I’m about to say this, I really, truly am shocked, but Kurt Busch is kinda growing on me. I know! I can’t believe I just said that. I still don’t dig his little brother Kyle, but Kurt showed some real maturity on Sunday and I have to give him props for that. He could have tried to go after the glory for himself but he didn’t, he helped his teammate instead. I so totally respect that. This is freaking me out I have to stop talking about it.

In other news…

How great was it to have Fox back covering NASCAR? Getting to watch the race with Darrell Waltrip, Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds is seriously like coming home. No, it’s like coming home with a Grande Cinnamon Dolce Latte (with whip cream!) from Starbucks, lounging on the couch with a big blanket and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. It’s that good.

I’ve been reading the book “One Helluva Ride: How NASCAR Swept the Nation” by Washington Post writer Liz Clarke. I’m this close to finishing and I have to say that this was the perfect time to read it. The Daytona 500 brings up memories of the past, NASCAR’s beginning and it’s heroes. “One Helluva Ride” is the perfect companion. I wanted to get out of the house yesterday, so I took the book with me to Starbucks. Once I got to the parts about Dale Earnhardt’s death in 2001 I was crying — I’m sure the people around me were like “What’s her deal??” At any rate, I hope to get the chance to speak with Liz and ask her some questions. More on that later.

Actress Amy Smart was a guest of Kyle Busch, who ran the second Gatorade Duel 150 race at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images for NASCAR)

Teammates Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch chat prior to the 50th running of the Daytona 500 (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Carl Edwards scans other drivers on his radio during Gatorade Duel practice. (Photo Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I could say how disappointed I was to know that engine problems are what screwed Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the millionth time, but really what’s the point? I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to the end of a NASCAR season as much as I have this one. I just want to get to Daytona (in person!) and see Dale in his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy and let the winning begin! I’m so done with this season it’s crazy. I say that but at the same time I hold out the hope that he’ll still win a race before this year is over.

Is it just me or did they make the pre-race show shorter?? I’m not sure ’cause I only caught the last 10 minutes, which — thankfully — only consisted of the national anthem and the call to start the engines.

I was excited to read that Rusty Wallace was getting the axe but apparently it’s not actually going to happen. I started thinking about my fantasy race coverage crew. It goes like this, Allen Bestwick and Wally Dallenbach would do the pre-race stuff. The pre-race show would feature actual semi-in-depth interviews that were taped during the week before the race. Ya know kinda like how they do with the NFL. Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds and Mike Joy would call the race (as they do now on FOX) and the pit reporters would be Dave Burns, Steve Byrnes, Dick Berggren and Matt Yocum. Ah, if only! What do you think? Good? No good?

Mike Skinner, driver of the #5 Toyota Tundra Toyota, kisses his wife, Angela after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 20, 2007 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet, watches during qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 19, 2007 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet, drives in the garage area, during practice for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 19, 2007 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Denny Hamlin is all smiles during qualifying for the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway (Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, walks in the garage area, during practice for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 19, 2007 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)