Vote now for the inaugural ‘Stewie Awards’
When Tony announced on his radio show a while back that they were going to give out the Stewie Awards, he didn’t mention that WE were going to get to vote. Well, SIRIUS and Tony announced today the nominees for the first annual ‘Stewie Awards,’ honoring the best, boldest and funniest moments of the 2007 NASCAR season. The 2007 Stewie Award winners will be decided by fans around the country who can cast their votes online.
The ‘Stewies’ will be awarded during a special broadcast of Tony Stewart Live, the weekly talk show hosted by Stewart and Matt Yocum on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio channel 128, at SIRIUS’ New York City studios on Thursday, November 29 (6:00 – 8:00 pm ET) during 2007 NASCAR Champions Week.
The nominees for the 2007 ‘Stewie Awards’ are:
Golden Stewie Award – Honoring a legendary driver from the Golden Era of racing (1960-85)
Best Duet – For outstanding teamwork by a driver and crew chief
- Jeff Burton & Pat Smith: Start at rear of field due to engine change and win Dollar General 300 NASCAR Busch Series race (Oct. 12)
- Casey Mears & Darian Grubb: Fuel strategy in Coca-Cola 600 leads to Mears’ first career NASCAR Nextel Cup win (May 27)
- Clint Bowyer & Gil Martin: Martin keeps Bowyer calm and team performs only one adjustment all day to get Bowyer’s first career NASCAR Nextel Cup win in Sylvania 300 (Sept. 16)
Best Original Drama – For year’s most exciting race moment
- Kevin Harvick edges Mark Martin to win his first Daytona 500 (Feb. 18)
- Jamie McMurray beats Kyle Busch in Pepsi 400 (July 7)
- Todd Bodine beats Rick Crawford & Johnny Benson to three-wide finish in Mountain Dew 250 Craftsman Truck Series race (Oct. 6)
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. learns of Jeff Gordon’s tribute to Dale Sr. after Gordon wins Subway Fresh Fit 500 (Apr. 21)
New Kid on the Track Award – For year’s most outstanding performance by a rookie
- Juan Pablo Montoya: Wins first Nextel Cup race in Toyota Save Mart 350 (June 24)
- David Ragan: Despite multiple crashes in ’07, finishes fifth in Daytona 500 (Feb. 18) and third in Chevy Rock & Roll 400 (Sept.
- Joey Logano: 17-year-old wins Busch East Series title and “Toyota All-Star Showdown” (Oct. 20)
Best Stunt Sequence (Hal Needham Award) – For year’s most spectacular crash
- Clint Bowyer: Crosses finish line at Daytona 500 on his roof (Feb. 18)
- Brad Keselowski: Crashes in Camping World 300 Busch Series race (Sept. 1)
- David Reutimann: Hits wall during Auto Club 500 in one of hardest crashes ever recorded by NASCAR and walks away (Feb. 25)
- Bobby Labonte: Starts “the big one,” which ends up taking out 11 cars at UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega (Oct. 7)
Best Original Comedy – For year’s most entertaining on track “incident” or occurrence
- Kevin Harvick & Juan Pablo Montoya get into shoving match during Centurion Boats at The Glen (Aug. 12)
- Tony Raines hurls helmet at Robby Gordon during RoadLoans.com 200 Busch Series race (Sept. 22)
- Robby Gordon performs “victory celebration” burnout despite losing Busch Series race at Circuit Gilles Villaneuve in Canada (Aug. 4)
Best Vocal Performance – For year’s most memorable quote or sound bite.
- Actor Kevin James: Provides memorable “Start Your Engines” command before Pepsi 400 (July 7)
- Tony Stewart: After long-awaited first win of season in USG Sheetrock 400 (July 15), says he is going to sit with a case of beer and drink until he “sees cardboard” at bottom of box
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.: At press conference announcing his move to Hendrick Motorsports, introduces his “new boss for 2008.” (June 13)
Best Engineering and Special Effects (Smokey Yunick Award) – For year’s most creative – and ultimately illegal – modifications to a race car
- Crew Chiefs Chad Knaus & Steve Letarte: Illegal fenders on #48 and #24 cars at Toyota Save Mart 350 (June 24)
- Crew Chief Tony Eury Jr.: Illegal wing brackets on #8 car at Dodge Avenger 500 (May 13)
- Crew Chief David Hyder & MWR VP of Competition Bobby Kennedy: Illegal fuel in #55 car at Daytona 500 (Feb. 18)
Dazed and Confused Award – For year’s the most baffling move
- Teresa Earnhardt and DEI allow Dale Earnhardt Jr. to leave for Hendrick Motorsports
- Hendrick Motorsports releases Kyle Busch to make room for Dale Jr.
- Carl Edwards lashes out at Roush Racing teammates for lack of support
- Tony Stewart, while running second at Nicorette 300 Busch Series race (Mar. 17), decides to pit before pit road is opened. Resulting pit road penalty – his third in six races – puts him at end of longest line and he finishes race in tenth position.
‘I Got Dumped’ Award – For year’s most memorable on-track bumping
- Aric Almirola: Pulled out of car while running third in AT&T 250 Busch Series race (June 23); Replaced by Denny Hamlin who wins race; Victory still credited to Almirola
- Kyle Busch: After Busch wrecks in Samsung 500 (Apr. 15), he leaves track; Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets behind wheel of Busch’s repaired car for a few laps; Hendrick Motorsports announces later that Dale Jr. will replace Busch on race team in ‘08
- Kyle Busch: Wrecked by brother Kurt in NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge (May 19)
Best Driver2Crew Chatter Exchange – For year’s most memorable driver-to-pit crew communication.
- Jeff Gordon/#24 team: Screams for caution while rain falls on Pennsylvania 500 (Aug. 5)
- Denny Hamlin/#11 team: Discuss “plan of attack” against Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #8 car during Subway 500 (Oct. 21)
- Kyle Busch/#5 team: “What up, dawg?” at Pepsi 400 (July 7)
- Carl Edwards/#99 team: “Motivational exchange” during USG Sheetrock 400 (July 15)
- Juan Pablo Montoya/Crew Chief Donnie Wingo: Different reactions after winning Toyota Save Mart 350 (June 24)
Visit the Stewie Awards to hear the radio exchanges and VOTE for your favorites.
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