Yesterday morning’s rush hour wasn’t just slow and frustrating, it was loud. Really loud.
Kicking off yet another gridlock-alert day, NASCAR’s top 10 drivers roared through Midtown, closing an entire circle of streets between 42nd and 53rd and Seventh and Madison avenues just as New Yorkers were headed to work.
Traffic was tied up for about an hour as NASCAR began a promotional event at 9 a.m., leaving even Mayor Bloomberg wondering who authorized it.
According to the Mayor’s Office, the NASCAR permit was issued by Evan Korn, executive director of the Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management.
The date of the event had been agreed upon by the Department of Transportation and the NYPD before the date for yesterday’s Rockefeller Center tree lighting had been set.
The Mayor’s Office said it didn’t expect the NASCAR promotion to affect the tree lighting.
The gridlock alert was issued only because of the tree lighting, according to a City Hall source who added: “If the NASCAR event was held on Tuesday or Thursday, it would have the same impact.”
Still, Bloomberg said he’d received e-mails asking why two permits for traffic-stopping events were issued on the same day.
“I certainly plan to find out,” said the mayor.
The NASCAR drivers – and thousands of loyal fans – came to town yesterday for the fourth annual end-of-season victory lap.
The Post rode along with star driver Carl Edwards, who fishtailed onto Broadway where fans awaited, decked out in NASCAR leather jackets and waving checkered flags.
With one hand out the window in a constant wave, Edwards tore down the bare boulevard and skidded left onto 42nd. Construction workers smiled and snapped photos with their cellphones, while most people on the sidewalk looked annoyed. One woman grimaced and stuck her fingers in her ears.
Police barricades were set up on every block, and cars and buses jammed every intersection as the race cars sped by.
“These people are like, ‘Man, I just want to cross the street!’ ” yelled Edwards, shifting with his right hand and still waving with his left.
At 44th and Madison, Edwards decided to leave his mark. “We’re gonna peel out on the crosswalk,” he yelled. “Ready?” He idled a moment, then let it rip as the crowd went wild.
“Normally, I’d be doing about 200,” shouted Edwards. “But this is New York, and there’s a lot more stuff to run into.”