Jeff Gordon was taking a leisurely stroll past Central Park when he heard someone calling his name from a passing car. In one of the few cities where the NASCAR star still maintains some anonymity, he was taken aback. "I thought I recognized him, and I turned around ... and it was Spike Lee," Gordon said on Thursday. "He thought I didn't recognize him, but I did, and he stuck his head out the window and yelled 'Spike Lee! What's up?' "I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

Who says you have to be a big winner to get the big money in NASCAR?

The NASCAR on FOX panel salutes three Chase crew chiefs — Kenny Francis, Chad Knaus and Scott Miller — for consistency and perseverance as the top Cup pit bosses.

Jeff Gordon was taking a leisurely stroll past Central Park when he heard someone calling his name from a passing car. In one of the few cities where the NASCAR star still maintains some anonymity, he was taken aback.

Congratulations, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Now that Jimmie Johnson has won a championship and Mark Martin is no longer planning to run a full NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule, Earnhardt has the dubious distinction of being perhaps the best driver without a championship. Earnhardt, the son of a seven-time champion, arrived in Cup full-time in 2000 with two Busch Series titles and sky-high expectations.

As the National Motorsports Press Association recognizes an outstanding contributor to stock car racing with the Myers Brothers Award (SPEED, 7 p.m. ET), the NASCAR on FOX crew singles out Brian France, Tony Stewart and Benny Parsons.

NEW YORK – NASCAR has exploded in popularity this decade, but is the explosion over?

Danica Patrick is confident she'll get her first win on the IRL circuit - she's just not going to make a prediction about when it will happen. One thing is certain: She'll be traveling in fast company starting Friday when she officially joins Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti and Bryan Herta on Andretti Green Racing. Her move this offseason from Rahal Letterman Racing has also ratcheted up the pressure on the only woman to ever lead at the Indianapolis 500.

Times Square has never seemed quite so vibrant to Jimmie Johnson. A short drive through the central part of Manhattan by NASCAR's top 10 drivers in their race cars has already become part of "Champion's Week" in New York - a celebration of the new Nextel Cup champion.

We gave you a chance to weigh in on Darrell Waltrip's latest column, which took NASCAR to task for many of the sport's changes in recent years. And for the most part, you agreed with DW.