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2008 OPeR Award: Best Owner/Team

All right all you fans of the Coach and the Cat in the Hat, bring it on. But you will not convince me that, in 2008 - and ‘06 and ‘07 too - Joe Gibbs, Jack Roush or anyone else was the equal of Mr Hendrick in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.

A third straight championship probably would have been enough, but throw in the recruitment and successful integration of NASCAR’s biggest box-office star, Dale Earnhardt Jr, the addition for ‘09 of Hall-of-famer Mark Martin (full time too) and a satellite team that includes Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman.

That’s Earnhardt Jr, Stewart, Martin, Newman to go with the seven Cup Championships of  Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson. We rest our case, your Honor.

2008 OPeR Award: Worst NASCAR Network

Can you say “slam dunk”? Although NASCAR’s media contract negotiation team should get an assist on this one - ABC/ESPN - the network that brought NASCAR fans, “America’s Funniest Home Videos” in place of the end of one of the final Chase to the Sprint Cup races, is the hands down winner of this year’s “Doh!” OPeR.

What are the chances that one of the NFL’s networks will preempt the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship game?

Uh, zero. Zero is the answer.

2008 OPeR Award: Best Post Race Interview

The best post-race interviews almost never involve the winner of the race. Those guys have just too many commercial obligations to cover for their respective sponsors. It’s hard to fit anything interesting in between the thank-you’s.

Our favorite one in 2008 was Carl Edwards’ explanation of his “video game pass” attempt for the lead on the final turn at Kansas Motor Speedway.

The “move” itself has won a bunch of recognition, including the “Monster Moment” on the 2008 Sprint Cup Awards Show. But we especially liked Carl’s deadpan description of what he was was trying to do - and why - after the race. Too cool.

2008 OPeR Award: Worst Team/Owner

This one hurt a little bit. Both Steve and I are fans of The King. We’re Kyle Petty fans too - of the driver, the philanthropist and the analyst.

But whomever bears the blame for what has become of the once dominant Petty Enterprises racing organization must be recognized. It’s broke. Probably, irretrievably so. And that is a shame, which is what this OPeR is all about.

The King is dead. Long live the King.

2008 OPeR Award: Best Race of the Year

I think NASCAR fans forgot how good the 2008 Daytona 500 was.

We live blogged the race at the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog - and had a blast - and the whole thing went incredibly fast.

There was drama - Jeff Gordon went out early, the Toyotas were in the mix right to the last lap in their first Sprint Cup race and Ryan Newman took the checkered flag for Roger Penske.

It was a long time ago. But a worthy OPeR winner.

2008 OPeR Award: Worst Race of the Year

This had to be the easiest winner- or loser - to pick this year. The 2008 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard was a joke. The attempts by NASCAR and Goodyear to shed blame for the gutting of one of the biggest events of the season nearly earned this race a second OPer - the “Worst Junior High School-like Moment” - but we decided against redundancy.   Here’s hoping that Goodyear and NASCAR do the same when they pick a tire for the next race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Time to Hand Out Our OPeR Awards

As has been our tradition ON PIT ROW; the end of the year is time to pass out our own, sometimes offbeat, NASCAR awards.

Most people who cover NASCAR on at least a semi regular basis tend to give their opinions as to who deserves the accolades for their participation in the past season.  While Charlie and I do the usual Best Driver, Best Crew Chief type awards we like to venture a little further into the stories of 2008.

The offbeat tends to become normal in a thirty-six week points season in NASCAR world.  From totally undrivable tires at Indianapolis to Carl Edwards’ video game wall move at Kansas, there is plenty to remember in this season gone by.

Please give us your award winners for the following catagories and we may use your answers on this Tuesdays show.

Best and Worst Driver

Best and Worst Crew Chief

Best and Worst Owner

Best and Worst Team

Best and Worst Post Race Interview

Worst attempt at “Adjusting the Rules”

Best and Worst Junior High School-like Drama

Best and Worst Radio/TV Personality

Best and Worst NASCAR Network

Best Guest to Appear ON PIT ROW

Don’t be afraid to go a little “off center” with your answers.  Leave us a comment and we may use it on this weeks show or give us a call with your winners on Tuesday from 5-7pm ET, toll free at 877-502-8255.

photo credit:  Icon Sports Media

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