“Two of the world’s most recognizable brands, NASCAR and Las Vegas, have developed a strong and successful partnership that delivers unrivaled excitement to millions of loyal fans,” President/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Auhtority Rossi Ralenkotter said. “We’re proud to celebrate this milestone as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards and its Champion’s Week return for the fifth year, proving that no destination matches the passion and energy of NASCAR like Las Vegas.”

Prior to moving to Las Vegas, the year-end ceremony was held in at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City from 1981 until 2008. Entertainment lineup for the 2013 banquet will be announced at a later date. Acts performing at the ceremony since it moved to Las Vegas include Kid Rock, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McIntyre, Rascal Flats, Colbie Caillat, Frank Caliendo and Martina McBride, among many others.

“Every single week, NASCAR creates the big-event experience, so it’s fitting that our year-end celebration of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion takes place in a city built on major moments,” NASCAR Chief Marketing Officer Steve Phelps said. “Las Vegas has been home to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards for five years, and each year it grows bigger, better and more entertaining for our fans. Undoubtedly, this milestone Champion’s Week will continue – and heighten – that tradition.”

Follow Stock Car Spin on Twitter @SCSblog or like Stock Car Spin on Facebook. Amanda’s also on Twitter @NASCARexaminer and has a fan/like page on Facebook: NASCAR Examiner.

During his speech near the close of the banquet, Penske expressed his appreciation for now being a part of an elite club — the club of Sprint Cup champion car owners.

“You can’t buy it,” Penske said. “You can’t get voted in. You have to work for it.”

Meanwhile, the championship driver, while somewhat under the weather, expressed a feeling similar to winning the lottery, likening all who played a role on his championship team to winning lottery tickets.

“You have to buy a lot of lottery tickets to be a winner, and I feel like a lottery winner,” Keselowski said afer receiving his championship ring from NASCAR President Mike Helton.

The other top-10 drivers of 2012 were also recognized at the banquet, including second-place Clint Bowyer, third-place Jimmie Johnson, fourth-place Kasey Kahne, fifth-place Greg Biffle, sixth-place Denny Hamlin, seventh-place Matt Kenseth, eighth-place Kevin Harvick, ninth-place Tony Stewart and 10th-place points finisher Jeff Gordon.

“It’s truly been one of the best years I’ve ever had,” Bowyer said during his speech.

Drivers and team owners weren’t the only ones honored during Friday night’s festivities. Lexington, S.C., attorney Lorri Shealy Unumb was recognized as the second recipient of the Betty Jane France Award for her humanitarian work relating to the fight against autism. Unumb, whose son Ryan suffers with austism, wrote Ryan’s Law to make sure that children from South Carolina receive treatment covered by medical insurance. Unumb has also been instrumental in the creation of the Austism Academy of South Carolina.

Series title sponsor Sprint also handed out four fan-voted awards under the banner of Sprint Fan Voice awards. Gordon received the Hard Charger Award for his race toward the front at Richmond (Va.) International Speedway in September to claim the final spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The #Did You See That? Award went to Johnson and car owner Rick Hendrick for when Hendrick rode on Johnson’s car to victory lane at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway to celebrate Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th Sprint Cup win.

“He called me on the radio and asked me to pick him up,” Johnson said.

Marcos Ambrose received the Dialed In To Win Award for his victory at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Stewart and crew chief Steve Addington took the other Sprint Fan Voice Award, the Call of the Race Award, for Stewart’s pit road fake-out prior to winning the rain-shortened race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontanta, Calif.

The banquet was hosted by comedian and game show host Howie Mandell, and entertainment was provided by the cast of The Beatles LOVE, Train, Lifehouse with Natasha Bedingfield and American Idol winner Phillip Phillips.

– Photo courtesy of Getty Images for NASCAR

– Follow Stock Car Spin on Twitter @SCSblog or like Stock Car Spin on Facebook

– Amanda’s also on Twitter @NASCARexaminer and has a fan/like page on Facebook: NASCAR Examiner