Cast Your Vote For This Year's Stewie Awards!

Sirius XM Radio announced today that three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart will host the sixth annual ‘Stewie Awards’ show on Thursday, November 29, live from Las Vegas on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. 

The ‘Stewies,’ which annually features Stewart’s entertaining and irreverent take on the best, boldest and funniest moments from the 2012 NASCAR season, will be awarded during a live broadcast hosted by Stewart and Matt Yocum from the Cabo Wabo Cantina at the Miracle Mile Shops on the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday, November 29 (10:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm PT). The live broadcast will air nationwide on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90 on Sirius and XM Premier. Those fans who will be in Las Vegas during Champion’s Week are invited to attend and watch the broadcast live in person. 

The ‘Stewie Awards’ will feature live interviews with several of Stewart’s competitors in this year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, plus other special guests. 

The 2012 ‘Stewie Awards’ will feature 10 categories – from ‘Best Original Drama’ to ‘Bonehead Move of the Year’ to the annual ‘Stewie Lifetime Achievement Award.’ Between now and the event, fans can cast their votes for ‘Stewie Award’ winners online at www.siriusxm.com/stewieawards.

The 2012 ‘Stewies’ nominees are: 

Best Original Drama– For the year’s most dramatic moment or sequence.

·         One hour before the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (7/7), it is announced that AJ Allmendinger is suspended after failing a random drug test. Penske Racing flies in replacement Sam Hornish Jr. who makes it to the car just moments before the green flag. Hornish finishes the race 33^rd.

·         Near the end of the Indiana 250 at Indianapolis (7/28) NASCAR penalizes Elliott Sadler for not letting race leader Brad Keselowski back to the start/finish line first during a restart. Sadler is black flagged and goes from first after the restart to finishing the race in 15^th. Keselowski wins.

·         In a furious final lap in the Finger Lakes 355 at Watkins Glen (8/12), Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Marcos Ambrose battle toward the checkered flag. First Busch gets loose, then Keselowski and Ambrose make contact with each other before Ambrose goes on to win.

·         With a win at the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan (6/17), the season is shaping up nicely for Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sport’s most popular driver. Junior makes the Chase but after an accident at Talladega, concussions sideline him for two races and end his shot at a title.

·         The season-long “competitive drama” between Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson lasts to the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix (11/11), the penultimate race of the Chase, when Jimmie Johnson loses a tire and hits the wall with less than 80 laps to go. Johnson was running seventh at the time and was only three points behind Brad Keselowski in the standings but the accident and Johnson’s 32^nd place finish puts him 20 points behind going into the season finale.

Bonehead Move of the Year Award

·         At the Gatorade Duel at Daytona (2/23) Michael Waltrip loses control exiting pit lane and hits the wall, ending his chances of running in the Daytona 500, which he had won twice before.

·         During the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas (10/21) Danica Patrick, in an attempt to spin Landon Cassill as payback for what she felt was overly aggressive driving, ends up putting herself into the wall.

·         Denny Hamlin runs out of gas on the last lap of the Geico 400 at Chicagoland (9/16) thanks to a miscommunication with his crew in the pits. He finishes a disappointing 16^th.

·         At the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered by Coca Cola at Daytona (7/6), Kyle Busch’s crew allows a tire to roll across pit road. The resulting penalty moves the #54 car from second place to the back of the field.

·         During a caution at the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover (6/3), Kevin Harvick misses his pit box and is forced to back up and re-enter. The botched stop moves him from third place to 18^th but Harvick ends up racing his way back to a second place finish.

“Feels Like The First Time” Award – For the most notable “first” of the NASCAR season.

·         In his first race as a crew chief, Scott Graves finds Victory Lane with driver Carl Edwards at theZippo 200 at the Glen (8/11).

·         Nelson Piquet Jr. stretches his fuel 43 laps for 86 miles to secure his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory in the VFW 200 at Michigan (8/18).

·         In only his third career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start, 18-year-old Ryan Blaney becomes the youngest winner in Truck Series history with a win in the American Ethanol 200 at Iowa (9/15). It is also BK Racing’s first win.

·         Dale Earnhardt Jr. ends a 144 race winless streak by taking the checkered flag in the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan (6/17).

·         John King survives a wreck-filled finish to win the NextEra Energy Resources 350 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series opener at Daytona (2/24).

Best Vocal Performance – For the year’s most memorable quote. (Visit www.siriusxm.com/stewieawards to hear audio of nominees.)

·         After the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega (5/6), Tony Stewart meets with the media and shares his thoughts on the wrecks during the race.

·         During his post-race interview with ESPN, Kevin Harvick expresses displeasure about Amber Cope costing him a win in the F.W. Webb 200 at New Hampshire (7/14).

·         After his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Richmond (4/27), Travis Pastrana tells ESPN about the highs and lows of his 22^nd place finish.

·         Disappointed in his second place finish in the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan(6/17), Tony Stewart shares some thoughts with the media gathered for Dale Jr.’s return to Victory Lane.

·         Brad Keselowski, addressing the media after the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix (11/11), has some pointed comments about the on-track feud between Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer.

Best “Driver2Crew Chatter” – (Visit www.siriusxm.com/stewieawards to hear audio of nominees.)

·         Tony Stewart does a “rain dance” in hopes of a rain shortened victory in the Auto Club 400 at Fontana (3/25).

·         Carl Edwards plays an April Fool’s joke on then crew chief Bob Osborne during the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville (4/1).

·         Tony Stewart offers some friendly advice to his crew after they fail to remove a wrench after a pit stop during the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas (10/21).

·         Ryan Newman puts his engineering degree to good use while chatting with his team during the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix (11/11).

·         Brad Keselowski pleads with his team to relay a message to Tony Stewart during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (5/27) in hopes of avoiding retaliation by Smoke.

 Best Original Comedy – For the year’s most entertaining “incident.”

·         After winning the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma (6/24), Clint Bowyer runs out of fuel during his celebratory burnout and is forced to walk to Victory Lane.

·         During the pre-race at Chicago (9/16), TV cameras capture Tony Stewart as he engages in his pre-race ritual good-luck “goosing.”

·         After the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (5/27) when no moderator shows for Matt Kenseth’s media availability, Kenseth takes it upon himself to host the proceedings.

·         Kevin Harvick’s car is forced off the starting grid for repairs just before the AAA Texas 500 (11/4) when a sandbag attached to a skydiver participating in the pre-race festivities strikes and dents a panel.

·         During the IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol (8/25), Tony Stewart wrecks after making contact with Matt Kenseth. Before heading to the infield, Smoke gives Kenseth a parting gift, firing his helmet at Kenseth’s hood.

Hal Needham Award (Best Stunt Sequence) – For the year’s most remarkable crash.

·         At the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan (6/17), a fairly benign-looking accident between Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman becomes more serious when Hamlin’s car bursts into flames. Safety officials race to put out the fire and Hamlin walks away unharmed and appreciative.

·         At the Pure Michigan 400 (8/19), Mark Martin hits the wall hard near the opening of pit road, causing his oil tank to explode on impact. Martin is unharmed and nobody on pit road is hurt.

·         On lap 161 of the Daytona 500 (2/27), Juan Pablo Montoya loses control and hits a jet dryer in Turn 3. The fiery crash ignites a fuel spill that burns the track, causing a two hour race delay.

·         On the final lap of the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega (10/7), Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip bump, sparking a massive crash that involves 25 cars and 10 of the 12 Chase drivers. Only race winner Matt Kenseth and second place finisher Jeff Gordon escape the wreck.

·         Early in the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover (6/3), Landon Cassill and Tony Stewart touch in Turn 2, starting a wreck that claims 12 cars.

 “Boys, Have At It” Award – For the year’s most memorable on- or off-track bumping and/or dumping.

·         This year there was one occurrence that was so epic that it wins this category by default … Jeff Gordon vs. Clint Bowyer in the final laps of the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix (11/11).

The Social Stewie Award – For the year’s best tweet.

· @MattKenseth: “Talked to #DaleJr yesterday, told him I was glad he was coming back…being the most popular driver was really hard work. #imkidding” (10/23)

· @ClintBowyer: “Crew guy filled my water bottle with warm beef stew. After I damn near threw up he is now wearing it. Now I really need a cold beer!” (5/2)

· @JPMontoya: “It’s pouring here in Michigan and we need a jet dryer. I know they used to have one but somebody blew it up.” (4/3)

· @MW55 (Michael Waltrip): “A light workout listening to Leo Sayer isn’t near as cool as@55MarkMartin doing heavy squats rappin with a dude with an ice cream cone tattoo.” (7/20)

· Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski had this exchange heading into Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway (11/16)

@DennyHamlin: "Hey @Keselowski, would this be a bad weekend for me to pay you back for all those times you wrecked me? I mean I do owe ya a couple.”

@Keselowski: "@DennyHamlin it'll be hard to pay me back if I'm looking at your rear!"

Golden Stewie Award – Chosen by Stewart and Yocum and honoring a legendary figure from the Golden Era of racing, the winner of this award will be revealed the night of the event.

“Stewie” Lifetime Achievement Award– Chosen by Stewart and Yocum, the winner of this award will be revealed the night of the event. 

SiriusXM is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR, broadcasting every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race live on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, the only radio channel dedicated to NASCAR 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

For more info please visit www.siriusxm.com.