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December
8, 2009
NASCAR’s V-Show
Making
the Grade Banquet Edition
By Dennis Michelsen
Where
was the guy with the spinning plates and the ventriloquist
act? Other than those two deficiencies NASCAR put on one heck
of a variety show on Friday night in Las Vegas. They say whatever
happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and I hope they leave the
blueprint for that show out there too because it was a huge
let down. When the Nationwide/Truck Banquet combo is better
you know the Cup series planners missed it. Just how long
was the banquet? By the time the banquet finally ended Joey
Logano was legal to drink! They tried to make the banquet
bigger and better in their first year in Las Vegas. They were
one out of two because they did make it bigger…a bigger
flop.
Banquet
Grade D:
Once the drivers start talking the only interruption
should be one musical guest at the halfway point of the driver
speeches to give the emcee a break. Frank Caliendo is usually
a funny guy but even he knew he lost his audience early and
often. The only thing funny about the other comedian was watching
his pants almost fall off. Otherwise it was just another big
screamer. I would have rather heard from winning Crew Chief
Chad Knaus. Two hours and twenty minutes until the first driver
spoke is two hours too long.
F for
David Gray
The only thing I found interesting about this act was discovering
that Ross Perot was on the keyboards. Why does NASCAR choose
musical acts that have no clue what NASCAR is all about? Let’s
go back to the sports roots for the choice of musical acts
at the NASCAR Banquet.
D for
Kasey Kahne
Didn’t his handlers have him practice his speech? Using
a teleprompter is not easy so maybe in future seasons Kasey
should just go off the cuff with some notes instead of a prepared
speech. The deer in the headlights look earns Kasey a low
grade.
C for
Jimmie Johnson
Maybe Jimmie Johnson was just bored by the entertainment
by the time he came up to give his speech. Four championships
in a row should elicit some emotion even in the most laid
back of competitors. The banquet lasted so long Jimmie did
need a shave by the end of the night.
B for
Denny Hamlin
The best prop joke of the night with the note cards from
2006-2009 to remember his lines when it was time to congratulate
the champion. Also a clever line and well delivered when Hamlin
mentioned that he is Jimmie Johnson’s good luck charm
since he has won four straight championships in Hamlin’s
four years in the sport.
A for
Mark Martin
Mark Martin sent the tone for his speech when he pointed
out, “I’ve got a hot date tonight too guys,”
when he thanked his wife early in his presentation. The big
smile did a great job of hiding the disappointment that Mark
had to feel that he wasn’t at the head table. Mark’s
smile showed that he was enjoying his time in the spotlight
to thank everyone for a great season and his delivery was
the best of the night.
Extra
Credit for Ryan Newman
Gets credit for humorous comment to Jimmie Johnson, “Hope
you enjoy your retirement.” This is not a guy that is
expected to be funny but he had the line of the night.
Extra
Credit for Juan Pablo Montoya
The best off the cuff speech of the night shows that
real drivers don’t need Teleprompters.
Extra
Credit for Escala
When I saw that a string quartet was appearing at the
NASCAR Banquet I groaned. But they were amazing with a unique
sound that I wish we would have gotten to hear one more selection
from during the night.
Join
RaceTalkRadio.com Tuesday night for a recap of the Snowball
Derby weekend from Speed TV’s Bob Dillner and the rest
of the Speed51.com mafia at 6pm ET. Then the Thunder Crew
takes over at 8pm ET to cover racing from NASCAR to ARCA and
everything in between.
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