On December 2, New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba will welcome the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions Week back to New York City for the fifth consecutive year. The week-long celebration, which runs from December 2-6, will be highlighted by NASCAR Tailgate City driven by Ford on December 4. Tailgate City will bring the NASCAR experience to the Big Apple with special guests and celebrities, official partner exhibits and entertainment from the Ford Sound Stage. Tailgate City will be located on 43rd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue in Times Square from 10:00am-6:00pm.

"I am honored to welcome back the entire NASCAR family of drivers, fans and partners to New York City for what promises to be an exciting 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions Week," said Commissioner Podziba. "I would like to congratulate the legendary Jimmie Johnson on winning his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title and would also like to commend all of the other drivers on another outstanding season. Champions Week offers a variety of opportunities for fans to experience the excitement of NASCAR and I encourage New Yorkers and our visitors to take advantage of all the fantastic events that NASCAR has on tap for this week."

In addition to NASCAR Tailgate City driven by Ford, Champions Week will once again include the Aflac Pit Stop Tour, Aflac Fan Fest, and NASCAR's annual awards banquet. Aflac Fan Fest is a free, three-day (December 4-6) event inside the Hard Rock Café in Times Square that will feature NASCAR drivers, SIRIUS XM Radio live broadcasts, racing simulators, giveaways and more. One of the highlights of Fan Fest will be a special concert with Gavin DeGraw on December 4. Tickets are free and will be distributed through Z100 radio and all day at the Aflac Fan Fest.

"New York is one of our sport's biggest markets, and for 27 consecutive years, NASCAR has been celebrating our champion in the Big Apple with some of the country's most passionate fans," said Mike Helton, President of NASCAR. "Champion's Week gives the many New Yorkers--and everyone in the tri-state area--who love NASCAR a chance to get close to the sport and our biggest stars. We're grateful to the City and its many agencies for once again rolling out the red carpet for us."

The Aflac Pit Stop Tour will bring the sights and sounds of Pit Road to the streets of New York City. Official show cars will be stationed throughout Manhattan from December 2-6. Pit Stop Tour locations include Madison Square Garden (7th Ave. and 31st St.), Sirius Radio Headquarters (6th Ave. btw 48th & 49th St.), Tourneau Atrium (Indoor Space - Madison Ave. & 56th St.), across from the M&M Store (Broadway and 48th St.), and adjacent to the Hard Rock Café (7th Ave. and 43rd St.).

"We are very excited to welcome back NASCAR Champions Week after Jimmie Johnson's historic championship season," said Steve Flatow, SVP, Business Development for NYC & Company--the city's tourism, marketing and partnership organization. "New York City has always been a center for unprecedented achievement and it is only fitting that the celebration of Jimmie's accomplishment takes place here on the world's greatest stage."

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions Week culminates on Friday, December 5 with the annual Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf=Astoria. The ceremony will officially crown Jimmie Johnson as the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and will also honor the other nine drivers for their outstanding seasons: Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, and Kyle Busch.

For more information about 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions Week, please visit www.NASCAR.com/ChampionsWeek.

The New York City Sports Commission is the mayoral agency charged with attracting, facilitating and promoting professional, amateur and scholastic sports events in New York City. The Sports Commission has played an integral role in creating or developing many new sporting events, including the NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ Champions Week, the BMC Software NYC Cycling Championship, the AVP Brooklyn Open, the NAUTICA NYC Triathlon, the NYC Half-Marathon, the Union Square Street Sessions presented by Jeep®, the Wild Onion Urban Adventure Race, and the Men's Health Urbanathlon.