The NASCAR Awards, the annual celebration of the sport's drivers, will have a new home this year according to an announcement ahead of the Cup Series regular-season finale.
The annual banquet will take place in the heart of NASCAR country -- Charlotte, North Carolina. The NASCAR Awards will take place on Friday, Nov. 22, a much earlier date than normal. The CW, the new home of the Xfinity Series, will then air the ceremony for the fans at home on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 3 p.m. ET/PT.
The 16 Cup Series playoff drivers will be a part of the festivities as they take part in on-stage interviews discussing their seasons and the biggest storylines. NASCAR will also honor the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series champions.
Like years past, the NASCAR Awards will also feature a celebration of its grassroots series on Thursday, Nov. 21. The list of honorees will hail from ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.
"We are pleased to announce our move to the Queen City for our postseason celebrations," said Michelle Byron, EVP, Chief Partnership and Licensing Officer at NASCAR.
"Being able to trace many of our sport's racing roots back to the North Carolina area, you can feel the energy and passion for NASCAR from the fans in Charlotte. We're excited to officially crown our champions in the Queen City."
The banquet celebrating NASCAR's stars is a tradition that began back in 1981, the season Darrell Waltrip won his first Cup title. The banquet was in New York City that season, and it remained in the city that never sleeps through 2008.
Dale Earnhardt said Jeff Gordon would "have to toast everyone with milk" if he won the title.
In 1995, Gordon did just that. #NASCARAwards pic.twitter.com/aNOsQeboMv
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 29, 2022
This run in New York City produced many memorable moments, including Jeff Gordon making a toast to Dale Earnhardt with a glass of milk in 1995. This was in response to the Intimidator saying that Gordon "would have to toast everyone with milk" if he won the championship.
The NASCAR Awards left New York City and headed to Las Vegas in 2009. Stock car racing's banquet remained in Nevada through 2019 as drivers did burnouts on the streets and took part in live events for the fans.
Nashville, the home of Justin Marks's Trackhouse Entertainment Group, has hosted the banquet for the last few seasons. Drivers from the national series have celebrated in Music City before heading into the true heart of the offseason.