Johnson wins Best Driver ESPY award
By Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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LOS ANGELES - Two-time defending NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson is now a first-time ESPY Award winner. Johnson was honored with the Best Driver award Wednesday night at the 16th annual ESPN-hosted sports awards show at Nokia Theatre.
The ESPYs are determined by online fan voting. Johnson was chosen over current Sprint Cup points leader Kyle Busch; 2007 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion - and now NASCAR rookie - Dario Franchitti; this year’s Indy 500 winner, Scott Dixon; Formula One star Lewis Hamilton; and four-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher.
“I’m so honored the fans voted for me,” Johnson said. “There were so many great drivers nominated, and I’m humbled that I was chosen for the ESPY. It was definitely a team effort, and my guys are the best in the garage.”
Johnson was nominated for Best Driver last year but lost out to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. Johnson won 10 races in 2007, a career high.
“NASCAR has the best fans in the country,” Johnson said, “and the fact that their vote is what decided the winner is an awesome feeling.”
Johnson was NASCAR’s only winner Wednesday night. Busch, NASCAR’s dominant driver this season with seven Cup victories, five Nationwide Series wins and two in the Craftsman Truck Series, also was nominated in the Best Breakthrough Athlete category. Fans voted that award to Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
The 2007 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway received a nomination in the Best Finish category for Jamie McMurray’s .005-second victory over Busch - the second-closest margin of victory since NASCAR instituted electronic scoring in 1993. The Best Finish honor went to Western Kentucky’s first-round NCAA Basketball Tournament win over Drake on a last-second 3-pointer.
The ESPY Awards will be televised at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday on ESPN.
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Jimmie Johnson
Comments
10 responses to "Johnson wins Best Driver ESPY award"
anonymous said:
Jul 17, 2008 at 11:00 AMCongratulations Jimmy. The FANS have spoken. KB did not win so what does that tell you. The FANS like Jimmy better than you. Better luck next time KB, take a year and polish yourself.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jul 17, 2008 at 11:41 AMCongratulations Jimmy!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMark Ernst said:
Jul 17, 2008 at 5:59 PMWho cares. That doesn't even come close to any other athlete in FB,BB or baseball. They play 164 regular season games. How does that compare to any type of racing?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jul 18, 2008 at 5:21 AMMark, Every sport has their awards. Dont be a spoiled sport. After all the drivers are some of the most generous sports figures. They do have decent reputations which is more than I can say for FB/BB. Sorry be a good sport.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportanonymous said:
Jul 18, 2008 at 8:20 AMFootball doesn't play 164 regular season games, their season is the shortest of all. I'd like to see other athletes try to drive 180+ mph for 4 hours straight in 100+ degree cars, 36 weeks out of the year. Plus all the other sponsor and owner obligations during the week. It's a tough schedule, just like baseball players and basketball players. The don't whine, it's part of the job they are paid well for and it's nice to see ESPY recognize motorsports too. I think Mark is more upset that KB didn't win. It was fan voted so what does that say. His previous post on the Wallace story was just as venomous. Called Wallace family LOSERS! I guess a Nascar championship, Rookie of the year honors and wins in all 3 series makes a loser. Look in the mirror.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMark Ernst said:
Jul 18, 2008 at 9:47 PMAnonymous whose hiding? Are you another that hides so if someone knows who you are can really point you out? Stand one a baseball field for three hours at 120 degrees. I've done it and you really don't get used to it. Is getting hit at 180 and slamed in the wall and flip over a couple of times safe? Hell no. I don't like seeing any type of race car driver get hurt. Like you said they all have their awards. But i will tell the Wallace boys what i think right to their face. I'm the one who needs to look in the mirror? I'm not hiding "Anonymous" St.Louis,Mo.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMark Ernst said:
Jul 19, 2008 at 5:40 PMI dont have any thing against Jimmie. He is one of the best since he came up in the cup series. Back to back championships takes a lot of work from the whole team. I didnt look at what the award was. It should have said best driver in racing. I apologize to Jimmie and his fans.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMarie Edwards said:
Jul 21, 2008 at 6:22 PMRacing is a difficult sport, whether anyone considers it a sport or not. I go to races, I listen to the boos, and the drivers still smile at their fans. I've seen wrecks that cause me to even have an asthma attack. The heat is horrible. At least in FB/BB you can WALK off the field. In racing you can't park your car and pick up where you left off.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMarie Edwards said:
Jul 21, 2008 at 6:24 PMI am not going to name names, but it would be nice if people learned to read the article before commenting. I see this on too many news sites. He was the only NASCAR driver to win. Congrats to Jimmie. I have seen him win 3x in Las Vegas and rooted for him this year, giving his team the thumbs up for trying as hard as they did. The only "losers" I know are people who never tried something. Win or lose, knowing you gave it your all--you finish a champion. GO JIMMIE!!!!!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMarie Edwards said:
Jul 21, 2008 at 6:28 PMAs far as the Wallace Brothers comment, I would like to say I wouldn't comment, but I can't help myself. Those brothers raced clean and just because they don't have over 60-80 wins doesn't make them losers. Some of them had bad equipment & rides. Racers of today get the best right out of the box; so they are given the highest chances of winning. Rusty, Mike & Kenny had to work for their equipment. Enough said.
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