Nashville-As NASCAR celebrates and concludes its 2021 season with the Champions Week Banquet in Nashville on Thursday night, this week’s warm welcome has been beaten by the crowded ballroom and a series of truly feel-good moments Off.
NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson and his No. 5 Hendrick racing team were appropriately treated at the annual awards dinner held at the Music City Center. A racing A-list attended to celebrate 2021 Highlights of the NASCAR season-and three first-time national series championships.
Related: Watch the NASCAR Awards Ceremony at NBCSN at 7pm Eastern Time
Larson's amazing statistics on his way to the championship include the number of leading laps (2,581 laps) that set a modern record, as well as his career best victories (10), top five (20) and top ten (26) results.
"The numbers for our champions this year are shocking," said NASCAR Chairman Steve Phelps, who compared the 29-year-old California Larson with the former legendary champions of Richard Petty and David Pearson. Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson. "This is his first [champion], but I believe this will not be his last."
After taking office, Larson promised not to be too emotional, but the gratitude in his voice and face was obvious. He thanked his wife Katelyn, team boss Rick Hendrick, team executive, former four-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, and recalled that he dressed up like Gordon on the first day of kindergarten and always regarded him as his own Racing icon.
Larson thanked his sponsors and fans-his long-time supporters played an important role in his transition from the California short track to NASCAR, initially as a member of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity course. He concluded his speech and thanked the team owner Chip Ganassi, who gave Larson his first big shot in NASCAR in 2012.
"I feel very humble to stand here in front of many of my heroes, friends and family tonight. As many of you know, it has not been easy for me to get to this stage in the past year and a half," Lal Sen said, then thanked Caitlin, his "best friend and biggest supporter."
He continued: "I didn’t know at the time, but those difficult times made me a better person and made us a stronger family. I’m very lucky to spend this life with you, Katelyn, even though I don’t I'm sure how I feel about you stealing Thunder in Victory Lane and shooting your beer with a shotgun."
Related: Scene on the red carpet | Kyle Larson presents the Goodyear Golden Car Award
Larson talked about how special it was for him to drive the No. 5 car for Hendrick-Hendrick's late son Ricky used the same car number and paint scheme. He concluded his speech and thanked his former team owner Ganassi for giving him his first chance.
"I left there in 20 minutes, realizing that my life would change forever," Larson said of his first—and short—meeting with Ganassi. "I will always cherish my years in your racing team, and I will always be grateful for the risks you have taken for a child from the West Coast."
Before the end of the Larson championship, the NASCAR industry celebrated every other national series championship-Ben Rhodes in the Camping World Truck Series and Daniel Hemric in the Xfinity Series.
Larson's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott won the National Motorsport Press Association's most popular driver award for the fourth time in a row.
"For me, I think I am as guilty as anyone," Elliott said. "I often don’t realize how much influence you can have, or how many people pay attention to your work, or how much some young people or young girls admire you. I think it’s important to recognize these things, and I at least try to establish A reliable role model.
"Fans have always been an important part of my career. I am very proud to have such support. I like to make them proud in the process."
Related: Chase Elliott named the most popular driver of 2021
Another annual award won at the main banquet is the famous Betty Jane French Humanitarian Award. This year, it went to Jeff Harmon in Louisville, Kentucky, a long-term volunteer with Down syndrome in Louisville.
Harmon has a 19-year-old son, Justin, who has Down syndrome. He has worked in the organization for nearly 20 years. I am very grateful for the award and considering the impact it will have. It started with only a few volunteers, and now, Harmon says, the organization now provides services to more than 1,200 children and families.
"Getting $100,000 for an organization is a huge benefit," Harmon said. "This is really helpful. We will use this money to help more people in the state and counties that cannot come to Louisville. Kentucky has many rural counties, so we will reach out and try to expand our influence. Scope."
Among other major awards, the late broadcaster Bob Jenkins won the NMPA Myers Brothers Award. Stu Grant, who has long served as a Goodyear executive, won the Schumann Award.
At the end of the evening, after trophy photos, press conferences, and speeches, Larson and Hendrick addressed the NASCAR media-when they ended the celebration, the obvious gratitude was obvious.
"This is a cool moment, I will never forget," Larson said.
Hendrick, who has won the NASCAR Cup series 14 times, said: "It will never grow old."
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