NASCAR Slaps Drivers For Missing New York Banquet

Filed in archive on December 8, 2005

Nasty! Nasty! NASCAR is royally peeved at several drivers who failed to appear at the annual victory banquet and prizegiving in New York. Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mike Sadler and Kasey Kahne were among the no-shows. "The banquet is not just for the championship and the top 10 drivers," spokesman Jim Hunter said. "It's for everyone that put NASCAR on the map, for all contingency awards and for all the sponsors who support this sport." At least Jeff Gordon had an honest excuse. He was competing in the Race of Champions in France, where drivers from the world's top racing series go one-on-one to show who's best. If you're listening, NASCAR, I have a suggestion. Hold the banquet in California. I love New York but why would a gang of mostly southerners want to shiver in Manhattan when they could bask in LA sunshine? That's Rusty Wallace, who showed up to say goodbye.