New York, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2006 – New York City was awash in auto racers this week for the annual NASCAR Champions Week. Times Square was turned into an inner-city racetrack, with Good Morning America’s Diane Sawyer lowering the flag that started the morning drive. (It wasn’t quite a race.) That was just one of the more visible Big Apple stops for champ Jimmie Johnson and colleagues, who also were feted at a fancy reception – with shopping – at Tiffany, and a gala dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria.

The drivers were at their most relaxed Thursday night at Marquee nightclub for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion’s party, where Kyle Busch said he was looking forward to staying out as long as he wanted. “Tomorrow, we don’t have to get up for anything”, he said happily. Dale Earnhardt Jr. agreed: “Tomorrow I’m going to go to Saks and shop a little bit”. 2006 champion Jimmie Johnson arrived just after Jamie Foxx, who was still tearing it up on the dance floor when we left in the wee hours.