Champions Week getting early start

NASCAR’S end-of-year party starting Tuesday

Usually jumping the start in NASCAR results in one being sent to the pits for a stop-and-go penalty.

That won’t be the case with NASCAR Champion’s Week in Las Vegas, which this year switches to a Tuesday through Thursday format instead of the Wednesday through Friday of years past.

One thing that hasn’t changed:

The schedule will be more hectic than a late-race restart, culminating with Thursday’s NASCAR Awards at Wynn Las Vegas at 5 p.m. NBCSN will televise.

The man of the hour — of a lot of hours — in Las Vegas this week will be Martin Truex Jr., who held off Kyle Busch of Las Vegas to win his first Cup Series championship Nov. 19 at Homestead-miami Speedway. NASCAR bills it as “an evening of stars, sharp style, music and celebration to honor the 2017 champion.”

Two marquee events leading up to Thursday’s tuxedo-fest will be Wednesday’s Victory Lap Fueled by Sunoco on the Strip, originating at Toshiba Plaza at T-mobile Arena, and NASCAR After the Lap at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

You never know what might happen at After the Lap, during which Cup Series playoff drivers poke fun at each other during bawdy, loosely moderated interviews. Who could forget Jeff Gordon break dancing on stage in 2011, except possibly Gordon himself?

NASCAR pit road reporter and

Las Vegas native Jamie Little said Champion’s Week is a great way for NASCAR to blow off steam after a grueling season that begins in February and ends in November.

“NASCAR has the longest season of all of the sports, and after the blood, sweat and tears, just being in Las Vegas is a real good deal for the drivers, teams, owners and those who cover the sport,” said Little, who will host Wednesday’s Myers Brothers Awards luncheon and announce the winner of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award at Thursday’s Awards ceremony.

“It’s time to celebrate the sport and a brand-new champion.”

Contact Ron Kantowski at rkantowski@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski on Twitter.