Talking babies, barriers and more in NASCAR

Jimmie Johnson says he's spent the offseason relaxing and doing little traveling -- while collecting numerous awards. After the season he was selected as the male athlete of the year by The Associated Press. Sunday, Johnson was awarded the Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award by the National Motorsports Press Association.

It is the fourth time Johnson has won the award, given annually since 1969. Only Dale Earnhardt has won it more times with five. As President of the NMPA, I introduced Johnson and Richard Petty was on hand to present the award to him.

Afterward, Johnson talked about his offseason & his wife having their first baby. The baby is due in July.

"I didn't realize that morning sickness (for wife Channi) was really an all-day sickness,'' Johnson said. "It's not just that it's in the a.m. She's had a rough go of it. Seems to be doing a lot better now.''

He said that in the most recent ultra sound he and his wife could see the baby's arms and legs moving. It's too early, though, to determine the sex, Johnson said.

Having a baby for the first time will lead to the questions of if that baby will do what no one else in teh sport has done the past four years -- slow Jimmie Johnson down. He's not sure.

"Only time will tell,'' he said. "I think it some lives ... it can slow things down. For myself, I really don't think so. I remember when I was getting married and there was a big comparison of drivers before marriage and after and clearly after being married, things have went along better for me,'' Johnson said. "There's no telling what type of experience being a parent is going to be, I know I have Channi's full support to chase my career and dow aht I need to do.''

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CATCHING UP

# The National Motorsports Press Association inducted Rusty Wallace, Jack Roush, Roger Penske and Robert Yates into its Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Among the people introducing the inductees -- NASCAR President Mike Helton introduced Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett introduced Robert Yates.

# Goody's announced it has extended its contract with Martinsville Speedway to sponsor both the spring and fall Cup races there through the 2012 season. Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 will be the spring race and the fall race will be known as the TUMS Fast Relief 500.

# Watkins Glen International announced changes to the track on Sunday at the NMPA Convention. Among the changes, expected to cost more than seven figures, is adding SAFER barriers at some locations of the track, along with paving gravel traps, giving drivers more run-off room. Most of the work is being done in turn 5 (known as the Bus Stop) and turn 10 and turn 11 (final turn that leads to frontstretch where this wreck happened). The extra room should help the drivers if they get off course instead of getting into grass that won't slow them or gravel that will hurt them if they get off course and get stuck.

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