NASCAR‘s annual Champions Week is under way in New York. There are a bunch of festivities set up and I wish I was there. But the next best thing, ok, the tolerable next best thing, is watching it all on TV.

So I’m going to make sure I set my Tivo to tape Good Morning America tomorrow morning at 8:50am to watch the top ten NEXTEL Cup Series drivers drive their stock cars through Times Square. According to the press release this is a “moment not to be missed.” Mmm right. Let me see, they’re in their cars driving less than the speed limit in Times Square. Big whoop. I’m sorry but that’s kinda boring.

But of course I’ll still watch it ’cause I’m addicted.

Friday is the big day, the day of the Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf=Astoria. The SPEED channel is broadcasting a live Awards Ceremony pre-show called “NASCAR Takes Manhattan” at 7pm EST. The Awards Ceremony will air on TNT at 9pm EST and then again on NBC on Sunday (Dec. 3) at 2pm EST. (check your local listings for exact times and channels)

Jewel is the musical guest this year who will hopefully sing a song that has something to do with what it feels like to win a championship. I doubt it though. I love Jewel, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t know if “Good Day” or “Again and Again” are appropriate songs for men who drive race cars for a living. Those songs are more apt for say, uhm, I dunno, that new Cameron Diaz/Kate Winslet movie, The Holiday. They’re chick flick songs.

At any rate, it’ll be fun to watch.