There's certainly plenty of opportunities for stories to come out of NASCAR Champion's Week.

The top 12 drivers have a media availability on Thursday. There's the hijinks of After the Lap. The Most Popular Driver Award results. The banquet speeches.

And while I plan to cover all those things, there's also something else on the Las Vegas agenda: Schmoozing.

During Champion's Week, there are several receptions where the NASCAR industry gathers to mingle – drinks in hand, of course. It's one of the best times all year to catch up with executives or talk off the record with drivers who are often too busy for such conversations.

Maybe schmoozing has a negative connotation, but I don't mean it that way. It's more in regard to face time with people who you just don't have the opportunity to normally speak with during the course of a busy season.

Take track presidents, for example – we might only see them at their races, but the schedule during those weekend is too hectic to really do much networking or relationship-building.

Vegas, though? It's just a bit more relaxed, as you might imagine.

So if there are gaps in my tweets or posts during Champion's Week, you'll have to forgive me; I'm probably in Schmooze Mode.