Johnson, others recognized for achievements during 2008 season

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Jimmie Johnson will be honored for his third consecutive championship Friday night at the annual Sprint Cup Series awards ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Johnson became just the second driver in NASCAR's 60-year history to win three consecutive titles, joining Cale Yarborough, who accomplished the feat from 1976-78.

The remaining top-10 drivers in this year's "Chase for the Sprint Cup" will also be recognized in the ceremony.

In addition actor Kevin Costner will make an appearance as part of his recently announced year-long partnership with NASCAR.

Johnson, who scored seven victories and 22 Top-10 finishes, ended his championship season 69 points ahead of Carl Edwards, who completed the year with a series-high nine victories, including a win in the season-ending race at Homestead.

Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus, and the No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team collected a total of eight awards during Thursday's National Motorsports Press Association Myers Brothers Awards luncheon in New York.

"Today was an opportunity to reflect back on all of the hard work and effort put in by everyone at the race shop," Johnson said. "The emotions kind of go over the top when you take a moment and realize just how special each of these individuals have been in sharing in the success we've had the past three seasons."

Many other top performers in the sport were also honored during the annual media luncheon.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., in his first season with Hendrick, took home the Chex Cereals Most Popular Driver Award for the sixth straight year. More than 1.2 million votes were cast for Earnhardt, Jr.

"You never get used to it," Earnhardt, Jr. said. "It takes a lot of fans to win that award, and I've got to appreciate all of them for what they've done. We enjoyed a pretty fun year, and I enjoyed myself. To be able to come up to New York and be able to accept this award again after six years in a row is pretty special for me, having changed so much in the past year."

Earnhardt, Jr., however, will not be present at the Sprint Cup awards banquet since he finished 12th in the Chase. At least Junior can enjoy more off-time as he continues with the growth of his already scruffy beard.

"I never grew a beard before and figured I would see what happens," he said. "I got through the itching and then I was alright."

Earnhardt, Jr. plans to go hunting with relatives later this month.

Team owner Richard Childress was the recipient of the NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award. Childress recently helped fund the establishment of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest University's Baptist Medical Center.

"I was a little caught off guard," Childress said. "I thought maybe one of the other (finalists) would win it."

This year, Childress made a $5 million donation to start the institute, which brings awareness to pediatric injuries and deaths from traumatic accidents.

"We just got it started three months ago, but it's been in the making for about two years," he said. "It's not about bricks and mortar, it's about people and research."

Artie Kempner, the coordinating director of NASCAR for FOX Sports, and Sprint Cup driver Ryan Newman were the other finalists for the award.

After becoming the first driver to finish every Cup race he started in his first season, Regan Smith picked up the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year Award this year.

"I'm very excited about the rookie of the year, and it's a great honor," Smith said. "Raybestos does a lot for us by putting this award on, and it gives the guys like myself and Sam Hornish, Jr. this year something we can go race and work for, our own little race."

Smith was running at the finish in all 34 races he competed in this season. He did not race in the road-course events at Sonoma, CA and Watkins Glen, NY.

Bob Bahre, a long-time track promoter and supporter of stock-car racing in the New England region, won the Buddy Shuman Award, one of NASCAR's most prestigious and longest-running prizes.

"We might have built the thing, but it's been the fans and drivers who have made it what it is today," said Bahre, the former owner of New Hampshire International Speedway.

The award, presented annually since 1957, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to NASCAR racing.

The late Thomas Taylor Warren, a longtime NASCAR photographer, was the 2008 recipient of NMPA's Myers Brothers Award. Warren, affectionately known throughout the NASCAR community as "T. Taylor," received the award posthumously after passing away October 8th at the age of 83. Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice president of corporate communications, accepted the award on his behalf.

"T. Taylor was a true pioneer in NASCAR photography," Hunter said. "He may no longer be with us, but his photographs will live forever."

Here is the complete list of Thursday's award winners from the 2008 National Motorsports Press Association Myers Brothers Media Luncheon in New York:

Buddy Shuman Award - Bob Bahre

NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award - Richard Childress

NMPA Myers Brothers Award - Thomas Taylor Warren

Chex Cereals Most Popular Driver Award - Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award - Regan Smith

DirecTV Crew Chief of the Year Award - Steve Addington

Dow Automotive Strategic Call of the Race Award - Carl Edwards

Moog Chassis Parts Problem Solver of the Year Award - Bob Osborne

MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award - Hendrick Motorsports

Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Award - No.48 team