NASCAR rolled out the new Nationwide CoT in 2010. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

The There’s No Crying in Baseball or NASCAR Award: To Jamie McMurray. One of my favorite Tom Hanks quotes is in the movie “A League of Their Own” when he tells one of his female players it’s not ok to cry in baseball. Jamie McMurray shed tears after winning the Daytona 500. Hell, if my career had nearly bombed and I turned around and won that race, I’d probably cry too. Way to go Jamie Mac!

The Good to See the Black RCR No. 3 Chevrolet Back in Victory Lane Award: To Austin Dillon. It wasn’t in the Sprint Cup Series, but it did do the spirit good to see Richard Childress’ grandson pilot the paint scheme made famous by the late Dale Earnhardt to victory in a NASCAR truck series race in Iowa.

The Best Race from Start-to-Finish of the Year Award: To the spring race in Talladega. There were an incredible 88 lead changes among 29 drivers during 188 laps of racing. It was highlighted by Harvick’s slingshot move around McMurray in the tri-oval on the final lap. And heck, as an added bonus the paying customers were even able to stick around for free afterwards and watch a pretty dang good rain-delayed Nationwide Series race later that afternoon.

The What In The Heck Were They Thinking Award: To Toyota and Michael Waltrip Racing. Ford still regrets the day they let a promising young driver named Jeff Gordon slip out of their camp and jump to Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports in 1992. We’ll likely look back in five years and wonder why Toyota and MWR let Trevor Bayne escape to Ford and Roush Fenway Racing in 2010.

The Best Looking Car of the Year Award: To the new car in the Nationwide Series. They only hit the track five times this season, but Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota’s versions of the Nationwide Series’ new car looks like they rolled right off the show room floor. Each model looks spectacular up close. The new car goes full-time in NASCAR’s junior circuit in 2011.

The Biggest Shock of the Year Award: To the voters who chose the 2011 inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Bud Moore is a very well-respected former NASCAR car owner and decorated veteran. Still, I didn’t think the Spartanburg, S.C. resident would wind up being inducted into NASCAR’s second Hall of Fame class. But that’ll happen next spring for Moore, who fielded cars for many giants in the sport.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has mostly struggled over three seasons at Hendrick Motorsports. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

The Double Secret Probation Award: To NASCAR. Hamlin and Ryan Newman were tagged with secret fines by NASCAR earlier this year for being critical of the sanctioning body. But NASCAR was the one left with egg on their face after details of the penalties were leaked to the media. Shame on you NASCAR for not being willing to let a competitor call you out over questionable debris cautions.


The Most Disappointing Driver of the Year Award: A tie between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Juan Pablo Montoya. I’ll give Montoya a slight edge in this category because he was expected by many to compete for the championship. As for Earnhardt, everyone continues to scratch their head over his inability to run up front.

The Driver of the Year Award: Hamlin, Harvick or Johnson? The accounting firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe is still tabulating the results. But check back with me around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and we’ll name the winner of this award.