NASCAR needs to have it’s week in New York to showcase the series after the season, but televising a three hour long banquet is not the way to go.

If I had the chance to layout out the Championship celebration I would do it in Charlotte on the Sunday after the New York Awards banquet. Only highlights of the banquet would be shown on the televised portion of the Sunday event thus giving the formal event on Friday a time where the drivers, teams, owners and journalists can relax and have fun with a nice dinner with no staged speeches or comedy acts.

Now what would happen on Sunday?

Well, lets start by having the event at the new Charlotte Bobcats arena. Fans can fill the stadium and some of the proceeds can benefit various charities that the top drivers represent. Fans would be able to travel in to see their favorite drivers one last time for the season with out spending an arm and a leg to stay in Manhattan.

Prior to the event, the top 10 drivers would hold autograph sessions (limited numbers) inside the stadium where show cars, merchandise and sponsor booths would also be present. Also the traditional race team’s souvenir blowout would move from Lowe’s Motor Speedway to downtown during the event. Once the Hall of Fame is done, the champion will be honored there early in the day.

The event card would consist of:

1. A concert on a stage in the center of the stadium featuring various acts - Country, rock and rap (for Mark Martin) with each group or artist singing a few songs each. No sedate music will be near the celebration, so that means no Jewel. During brief intermissions between acts fans will be able to win prizes from NASCAR sponsors when their seat number is displayed on the scoreboard.

2. Drivers will be presented one by one in between music acts. Each driver will be able to select their music entrance – similar to basketball team intro – while their season highlights play on the scoreboard with fireworks blasting off. From there, each driver will get their trophy and will talk about their season briefly (no teleprompters) before taking a limited number of questions from fans throughout the stadium.

3. After the champion speaks, one last concert will setup for the grand finale, which will consist of an Arena Race between the top 11 drivers in micro cars painted up just like their respective NEXTEL Cup rides. The winner will take home a check for the charity of their choice.