'Stewie Awards' handed out

Two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart and radio sidekick Matt Yocum decided earlier this year that the stock car sport needed some awards to rival Hollywood's Oscars and Emmies.

 

Thus were the Stewie Awards born.

 

Stewart and Yocum, who co-host a weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio, asked listeners to vote online in 12 categories. They handed out the inaugural Stewies this week in New York as part of NASCAR's Champion's Week celebration.

 

Stewie Lifetime Achievement Award

• Bill France, Jr., former Chairman and CEO of NASCAR
• Benny Parsons, Hall of Fame driver/broadcaster

Golden Stewie Award - Honoring a legendary driver from the Golden Era of racing (1960-85)

• A.J. Foyt

Best Duet - For outstanding teamwork by a driver and crew chief

• Clint Bowyer & Gil Martin: Martin keeps Bowyer calm and team performs only one adjustment all day to get Bowyer's first career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup win in Sylvania 300 (Sept. 16)

Best Original Drama - For year's most exciting race moment

• Kevin Harvick edges Mark Martin to win his first Daytona 500 (Feb. 18) –

New Kid on the Track Award - For year's most outstanding performance by a rookie

• Juan Pablo Montoya: Wins first NEXTEL Cup race in Toyota Save Mart 350 (June 24)

Best Stunt Sequence (Hal Needham Award) - For year's most spectacular crash

• Clint Bowyer: Crosses finish line at Daytona 500 on his roof (Feb. 18) –

Best Original Comedy - For year's most entertaining on track "incident" or occurrence

• Robby Gordon performs "victory celebration" burnout despite losing Busch Series race at Circuit Gilles Villaneuve in Canada (Aug. 4)

Best Vocal Performance - For year's most memorable quote or sound bite

• Actor Kevin James: Provides memorable "Start Your Engines" command before Pepsi 400 (July 7) –

Best Engineering and Special Effects (Smokey Yunick Award) - For year's most creative - and ultimately illegal - modifications to a race car

• Crew Chief David Hyder & MWR VP of Competition Bobby Kennedy: Illegal fuel in #55 car at Daytona 500 (Feb. 18)

Dazed and Confused Award - For year's the most baffling move

• Teresa Earnhardt and DEI allow Dale Earnhardt Jr. to leave for Hendrick Motorsports –

'I Got Dumped' Award - For year's most memorable on-track bumping

• Kyle Busch: Wrecked by brother Kurt in NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge (May 19) –

Best Driver2Crew Chatter Exchange - For year's most memorable driver-to-pit crew communication

• Denny Hamlin/#11 team: Discuss "plan of attack" against Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #8 car during Subway 500 (Oct. 21)