Can someone explain to me why NASCAR holds their awards ceremonies in New York City?

Question

Tomorrow, the awards ceremony will again be held in NYC at the Waldorf-Astoria. Why?
NASCAR's roots are in the South. Many drivers and crew members are from the South. Most of the teams are based in the South. Long time and hard core fans are, you guessed it, from the South.
Nothing against the great city of New York, but it just doesn't make sense to me to have the ceremony there. Why not Atlanta or another city in the South that has hosted NASCAR events for decades?

Answer 1

Actually I wondered the same thing. On last week's edition of Kyle's Korner on NASCAR.com, Kyle Petty addressed the question and said it's because there are virtually two places in the US where you get the maximum media coverage: NYC and LA. Also many of the corporate sponsors for NASCAR have their headquarters in NYC and it's the sponsors who can pull the strings to get the media all hyped about the awards week. I can buy that although I really think there are other places more deserving, if NASCAR really intends to be a major player in the great world of sports then I guess NYC is where they need to be for this.

Answer 2

... Can't say for sure. It is something they started back in 1981. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldorf-Astoria_Hotel It may have something to do with the luxury and size of the banquet rooms and suites (just a guess). They have used different sections of the building to hold the event throughout the years.

... Also even though the races had southern roots and was tied to bootleggers having fun, the founders of Nascar (William France) were from Washington D C I believe. They moved to Florida (1935) where the first races were run on the sandy beaches of Daytona later on. So not all of the sport is completely of southern roots. The founders of the sanctioning body were of northern descent.

... I'll bet it's a matter of people with money knowing other people with money. I have often wondered the same thing. Also money man Bruton Smith wants the awards banquet moved to Las Vegas. "They've got 140,000 hotel rooms. All they need now is the banquet there," Bruton said. http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/opinion/01/25/dcaraviello.bruton.smith/index.html
That's something to watch for.

.. Also New York City is considered to be the media capital of the world. Nascar wanted the benefits of the media coverage of New York for Champions Week . Places like David Letterman, The Today Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, Saturday Night Live, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien are located there. Plenty of talk shows. http://www.ny.com/talk/

... You have to keep in mind that in 1981 the Internet was not very popular then. In fact the Internet was really starting to take shape around the 1990's. Yahoo didn't exist until 1995 and Google didn't exist until 1998. Moving to New York made more sense back then. Since the explosion of the Internet had not happened then it made sense to be there. Holding the event in NYC has been a tradition ever since.. "Now" there is so many ways to get exposure that being in New York isn't as important not to mention the fact that the sport has grown so much that the coverage from NYC isn't as important. They can get coverage anywhere now. They can make it come to them. They can put it in Vegas and turn it into a celebration. Satellite can get them broadcast from anywhere now.

Answer 3

Nascar has been trying to shake it's good 'ol by southern redneck image. In order for that to happen, it's a good idea to have an awards banquet in the middle of the biggest city in America. It also helps that a large portion of public relations companies are based in NYC. For one week a year everyone gets a glimpse of stock cars in New York City. No other city would capture as many headlines or attention. All the broadcast tv stations are based there and it is much easier to do a media blitz doing shows like Good Morning America, Regis, David Letterman, and all the rest. Cities like Atlanta, Vegas, and Charlotte cannot offer this.

Answer 4

No it does not make sense.NASCAR was breed in the South.But for some reason the powers at NASCAR felt that "Wall Street" was the way for NASCARto go/grow.
So New York is the place that fits NASCAR's plans.
Personnally the awards ceremony should be at the world center of NASCAR ,Daytona.If not there then do as ARCA was doing and picking a different city each year(Charlotte,Atlanta,Richmond,Nashville,Birmingham).

Answer 5

Because New York is the media capital of the world. How else can you get live shots on all the major networks morning shows, David Letterman(if he weren't on strike) and more. No where else can NASCAR get the exposure that they get in the big apple.

Answer 6

It probably has allot to due with p.r . New York has allot of visitors coming and going. Besides if Garth Brooks can play new york to that large an audience i am sure nascar would get i big audience there if they had a race there

Answer 7

Well of course, the red carpet treatment. That's where all the high society hang out. And of course its a good place to have a night out right. As they say New York City don't go to sleep.

Answer 8

The Truck and Busch series awards are held in the south. I don't know why they picked NYC for Cup

Answer 9

I agree it should be held in the South--Maybe Charlotte NC will get it someday--Only figures for them too--The All Star Race is in Charlotte--How much more of an All star event could you have with the Top 12 finishers of each years Chase!!!!

Answer 10

Its been there since 1981...I'm sure it had a lot to do with $$$..But theres hope..Theres rumors that they want to move it to Vegas..Yeah now that's a place to celebrate a championship and everyone will be happy, better weather that's for sure.. Come Bruton $$$ Smith, do your thing convince Nascar to bring it out to Vegas.. If not Vegas, heck do it right after Homestead, take it to South Beach, tons of celebrating can be done there Miami just like NY open all night.. Party till the sun comes up..