Three-Day Celebration Awaits Whelen All-American Series
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will honor its champions during a three-day celebration in Las Vegas on Nov. 5-7, culminating with the series’ 27th annual awards banquet at the Rio All-Suite Hotel.
NASCAR, series sponsor Whelen Engineering and track operators will gather to honor nationals champion Philip Morris, plus U.S. state, Canadian provincial, and track champions from throughout North America.
Morris, of Ruckersville, Va., has made history this year, becoming only the second driver to win the NWAAS title more than once. Morris, the champion also in 2006, joins five-time champion Larry Phillips in the series’ very elite category.
The celebration opens on Wed., Nov. 5 with the Jim Hunter Invitational Golf Classic at Las Vegas’ Desert Pines Golf Club. Hunter, NASCAR’s Vice President for Corporate Communications and long-time devotee of NASCAR short tracks, will host the event at what Golf Digest has recognized as one of the best new upscale courses in the country.
Thurs., Nov. 6 features a state champions dinner for drivers and their spouses, and plenty of free time to enjoy the fabulous Las Vegas strip. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track operators will compete in go-karts at Pole Position Raceway, Las Vegas’ famous quarter-mile road course, enclosed in a massive 60,000 square-foot facility. Later, the track operators will enjoy the dinner comedy show “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” at the Rio.
Morris will also receive a special added bonus on Nov. 6. He and four family members will enjoy a helicopter excursion to The Grand Canyon. The helicopter will land on the picturesque canyon floor near the Colorado River for lunch. The group will also view Lake Mead and the massive Hoover Dam, which provides hydroelectricity to Nevada, California and Arizona.
The week’s main event, the Fri., Nov. 7 awards show, will have “NASCAR on FOX” television broadcasters Mike Joy and Dick Berggren as co-emcees.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR Whelen All-American Series PR