Random ruminations from the red carpet in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A handful of drivers walked the red carpet, err red rug, in Uptown Charlotte this week to promote EA's Sports new NASCAR '09 video game.

My Joan Rivers moment was traded for little fashion to speak of but lots of racing simulation talk and nods to Whisky River, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s new night club where the gaming event was held.

On the cover for a second time, four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon made an appearance and chatted about the making of the game. Turns out, his experience in front of a green screen may qualify the driver for a career in TV weather when he retires; that's if he gets bored with world traveling.

Gordon spent nearly eight hours developing the content for the new graphics package for NASCAR '09, set to be in stores in June. Gordon works with the gamers through an interactive 3D menu interface and advises you throughout your career. The game will feature the "electrifying mix of rock, country, metal, and punk music."

As for the red carpet, it was a few bad Bon Jovi songs mixed with a Black Crowes throwback.

Brad Coleman struts his stuff.

Funnier than that, the band on the soundtrack, P.O.D., was supposed to make a red carpet appearance but didn't. Instead, Rev Theory came through but was introduced as P.O.D.

Anyway, I digress and bring you back to my chat with Gordon, who said he really enjoyed making the game.

"I'm standing in front of a green screen with the game live in the background and so I could actually see if I was pointing or referencing something on the screen, I could see what was happening," he said.

Throughout the game, Gordon, like any other team owner would, stands in the garage and gives the driver a grade.

"Yeah, the garage I'm standing in is all very high-tech, something we all wish we had but I tell them they are either falling behind, go for it or get after it," Gordon laughed. "The graphics are really cool and the games just keep getting more realistic."

This is why drivers like Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Michael McDowell swear by the racing simulators and credit their success to hours and hours spent playing the game. But I have to laugh at the thought of Busch playing NASCAR '09 and hearing Gordon's electronic figure telling him to "get up on the wheel, you're falling behind."

Cover model Jeff Gordon

Now McDowell is serious about his play time. He said he has an entire room in his house devoted to his racing simulation and credits the game for helping him tackle tracks the Michael Waltrip Racing rookie had never seen before. The marks and scenery in the game depict marks and similar characteristics of the actual tracks themselves.

But McDowell said the game doesn't take care of all the educational needs ...

"You don't feel the vibration in your butt," McDowell said.

Apparently, drivers use their backsides to gather pertinent information for their crew chiefs on how the car handles. Good to know in case my Jetta acts up anytime soon.

Nationwide Series driver Brad Coleman, dressed in a black sports coat, jokingly flashing his Fossil watch, said he credits the game to some of his on-track success.

"I would say [the game helped] last year [with] my top-five in Kentucky," Coleman said. "That helped me visualize the track and get my marks down."

So while the drivers touting NASCAR '09 were stars of the show, they were far from red carpet standards. Rutledge Wood of SPEED had my vote for best dressed, hands down, pairing a tuxedo shirt with plaid short and flip flops. He was the ideal image of NAScarpet, NASCAR and red carpet.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer