Stock Car Spin » NASCAR Champions Week http://stockcarspin.com A NASCAR Blog Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:52:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 “Ice Cream Man” Wins The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award http://stockcarspin.com/2011/12/04/ice-cream-man-wins-the-betty-jane-france-humanitarian-award/ http://stockcarspin.com/2011/12/04/ice-cream-man-wins-the-betty-jane-france-humanitarian-award/#comments Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:00:54 +0000 http://stockcarspin.com/?p=2745 He is known as the “Ice Cream Man” for the delicious treats he has delievered for many years to the students at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf  and the Blind in Talladega, Alabama. After Friday night, you can call Robert Weaver the first person to win the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Weaver, who is [...]

“Ice Cream Man” Wins The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award - Stock Car Spin - Stock Car Spin - A NASCAR Blog

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Robert Weaver celebrates after winning the inaugural Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week Awards Ceremony at Wynn Las Vegas on December 2, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

He is known as the “Ice Cream Man” for the delicious treats he has delievered for many years to the students at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf  and the Blind in Talladega, Alabama. After Friday night, you can call Robert Weaver the first person to win the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Weaver, who is in no relation to me, received the most votes among four finalists during a nationwide fan vote on NASCAR.com and the mobile voting site developed by Sprint.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to have been selected the inaugural recipient of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and thank NASCAR, The NASCAR Foundation and the France family for making this possible,” said Weaver. “I have often said that I don’t hit home runs; I just do little things. It is the little things that matter so much in people’s lives. As I look back over my own life, working with the children of Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind has been part of my calling – it is why I was put on this earth. I encourage everyone to find something they are passionate about and commit to making a difference – you’re never too young or old to start.”

For those that don’t know, NASCAR’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award recognized the charitable and volunteer efforts of selfless NASCAR fans, which is exemplified by Weaver’s work.

Weaver has been volunteering with the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Foundation for more than 50 years. In addition to his monthly charitable endeavors, he dedicates 30 hours a week to helping children in the organization. His many contributions range from creating intramural basketball teams and bowling programs to teaching students how to ride tricycles. Weave is also a very passionate NASCAR fan, who once was able to pair his hobby and his volunteer work with Darrell Waltrip, who would host the AIDB’s annual fundraiser in 1986.

Betty Jane France, the mother of NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brance France,  created the “Speediatrics” concept, a pediatric unit with a racing-theme decor at both the Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida and the Homestead Hospital in Homestead, Florida.

As the winner of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, Weaver received an expense-paid trip to the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas, a 2012 Ford Explorer from Ford, and $100,000 from the NASCAR Foundation for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Foundation.

]]> http://stockcarspin.com/2011/12/04/ice-cream-man-wins-the-betty-jane-france-humanitarian-award/feed/ 0 Day 3: Grubb Stands Tall; Stewart Gets Call http://stockcarspin.com/2011/12/01/day-3-grubb-stands-tall-stewart-gets-call/ http://stockcarspin.com/2011/12/01/day-3-grubb-stands-tall-stewart-gets-call/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:11:26 +0000 http://stockcarspin.com/?p=2717 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 1, 2011) – Darian Grubb spoke for mere minutes at Thursday’s NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon, but the words that tumbled from the champion crew chief’s mouth were a good two months in the making. Prior to October’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Grubb learned that his tenure as Tony Stewart’s [...]

Day 3: Grubb Stands Tall; Stewart Gets Call - Stock Car Spin - Stock Car Spin - A NASCAR Blog

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Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, drives down the Las Vegas Strip and does a burnout in front of the Wynn Las Vegas during the NASCAR Victory Lap on December 1, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for NASCAR)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 1, 2011) – Darian Grubb spoke for mere minutes at Thursday’s NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon, but the words that tumbled from the champion crew chief’s mouth were a good two months in the making.

Prior to October’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Grubb learned that his tenure as Tony Stewart’s crew chief would end after the season. Then, six races and three victories later, Grubb won an improbable NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship atop the pit box for the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet. A few days later, the move was confirmed. Grubb was out, Steve Addington was in as Stewart’s crew chief in 2012.
That draining sequence of events framed the highlight of Thursday’s traditional NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon at the Bellagio – Grubb’s acceptance speech as champion crew chief.
With emotion in his voice, Grubb thanked Stewart for the opportunity – and his friendship. During the post-event media availability, Grubb explained his feelings from the roller-coaster ride.
“It’s just tough,” Grubb said. “It’s just awkward because we want to enjoy it, but we know things are changing. So we’re trying our best to enjoy the championship and everything we’ve earned and deserved and go from there.”
Stewart, who filled his expanding trophy case with four more awards on Thursday, continued a dream week. Enjoying the spoils as guest of honor during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week, Stewart picked up the phone on Wednesday morning to speak with President Barack Obama – calling from Air Force One.
“It is a huge honor to get a call from the President of the United States,” Stewart said. “I was more nervous that I wasn’t going to be able to hear on the phone very well, being from Air Force One, but they got great service up there. He just congratulated us on a great season. … The First Lady was giving him updates from the track, so I was really proud that he was following our sport and cared enough to call yesterday.”
A number of postseason awards were given out during the luncheon, the last of which was the event’s namesake: the NMPA Myers Brothers Award. This year, the honor was given to former CEO of Pocono Raceway Dr. Joe Mattioli and his wife Rose.
Also announced today was the Wheaties Fuel Most Popular Driver Award, Stock Car Spin’s Heather will give us a run down of that award later.
At the event’s conclusion, the top-12 drivers hit The Strip for what has evolved into one of the most hotly anticipated events of Champion’s Week: the NASCAR Victory Lap. For the third consecutive year, thousands of fans lined The Strip to watch the top 12 roar down The Strip. Starting at Planet Hollywood and ending at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, celebratory burnouts smoked the closed streets of Las Vegas.
A large crowd also enjoyed a Q&A session with the top 12 at the popular NASCAR After The Lap, held at the Hard Rock. The tell-all format has gained mass appeal, as drivers show fans a more personal side.
Day 3 events ended with the presentation of the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio “Stewie Awards,” hosted by Tony Stewart, honoring the best moments of the 2011 season.
Here is the complete list of Thursday’s award winners from the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon:
  • Myers Brothers Award: Drs. Joe and Rose Mattioli
  • NASCAR Foundation Track of the Year Award: Michigan International Speedway
  • Buddy Shuman Award: Richard Childress
  • NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award: Toyota
  • Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award: Andy Lally
  • Growth Energy American Ethanol Green Flag Restart: Matt Kenseth
  • Coors Light Pole Award: Carl Edwards
  • Mobil 1 Driver of the Year Award: Tony Stewart
  • DIRECTV Crew Chief of the Year Award: Bob Osborne
  • MOOG Chassis Part Problem Solver of the Year Award: Alan Gustafson
  • O’Reilly Auto Parts Position Improvement Award: Tony Stewart
  • Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award: Roush Fenway Racing No.99
  • Mahle Engine Builder of the Year Award: Roush Yates Engines No. 99 (Doug Yates)
  • Goodyear Gatorback Belts & Hoses Fastest Lap Award: Kyle Busch
  • Sunoco Diamond Performance Award: Tony Stewart
  • Goodyear Tires Award: Tony Stewart
  • Champion Sponsor Award: Office Depot and Mobil 1
  • Champion Crew Chief: Darian Grubb
Following is a rundown of tomorrow’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week activities.
Friday, Dec. 3
2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony: The big show starts at 6 p.m. (9 p.m. ET), crowning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and team Stewart-Haas Racing, and honoring the other drivers who finished in the top 10 in the final series standings. The star-studded entertainment lineup for the ceremony includes country music icon Reba as host, a performance by Grammy-award winning rocker Kid Rock, as well as performances by two recent additions: up-and-coming country artist Ella Mae Bowen and Broadway sensation Jersey Boys. SPEED, SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio and MRN Radio will broadcast the event, live at 9 p.m. ET.
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