Best Driver ESPY Award
Awarded forRacing driver of the year
LocationLos Angeles (2019)
Presented byESPN
First awarded1993
Currently held byMax Verstappen
Websitewww.espn.co.uk/espys/

The Best Driver ESPY Award, known alternatively as the Best Auto Racing Driver ESPY Award, is an annual award honoring the achievements of an individual from the world of motorsports.[1] It was first awarded as part of the ESPY Awards in 1993.[1] The Best Driver ESPY Award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan,[2] has been presented annually to the racing driver adjudged to have performed the best in a given calendar year.[1] Since 2004, the winner has been chosen by online voting through three to five choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee.[3] Before that, determination of the winners was made by an panel of experts.[4] Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.[n 1][5]

The inaugural winner of the award was British driver Nigel Mansell who finished the 1992 season with a then record-breaking nine wins and fourteen pole positions en route to winning his sole Formula One World Drivers' Championship.[6][7] Mansell moved to the Championship Auto Racing Teams the following year, and won the series title at the first attempt,[8] earning him a second ESPY Award in 1994.[6] Mansell is one of six drivers to have won the award more than once. As of 2022, multiple NASCAR Cup Series champions Jeff Gordon (1996, 1998, 1999, 2007) and his teammate Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) have won the most awards with four each. NASCAR drivers have won more awards than any other motorsports series, with nineteen victories, followed by Formula One with five wins. It was not awarded in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The most recent winner of the award was NASCAR driver Kyle Larson who won the award in 2022.

Winners and nominees

Best Driver ESPY Award winners and nominees
Year Image Driver Nationality Racing series Type of vehicle Other nominees Ref
1993 A mustached man in his late thirties is wearing blue racing overall and is looking at the camera. Nigel Mansell  GBR Formula One Open wheel N/A [6]
1994 A man in his early fifties is wearing a black baseball cap and is smiling at the camera. Nigel Mansell (2)  GBR CART Open wheel N/A [6]
1995 A man in his late forties smiling at the camera. Al Unser Jr.  USA CART Open wheel Dale Earnhardt ( USA) – NASCAR
Michael Schumacher ( GER) – Formula One 		[6][10]
1996 A man in his early twenties smiling at the camera. Jeff Gordon  USA NASCAR Stock car Michael Schumacher ( GER) – Formula One
Jacques Villeneuve ( CAN) – CART 		[11]
1997
–
 Jimmy Vasser  USA CART Open wheel Terry Labonte ( USA) – NASCAR
Damon Hill ( GBR) – Formula One 		[12]
1998 A man in his mid-twenties wearing sunglasses and rainbow-colored racing overalls Jeff Gordon (2)  USA NASCAR Stock car N/A [13]
1999 A man his late twenties wearing rainbow colored racing overalls. He has his left hand on his left hip and his right hand leaning against a solid surface. Jeff Gordon (3)  USA NASCAR Stock car Dale Earnhardt ( USA) – NASCAR
Mark Martin ( USA) – NASCAR 		[14][15]
2000 A mustached man in his early forties wearing sunglasses and blue and red racing overalls Dale Jarrett  USA NASCAR Stock car John Force ( USA) – NHRA
Juan Pablo Montoya ( COL) – CART 		[16]
2001 A man in his early forties wearing yellow racing overall and he is holding a HANS device Bobby Labonte  USA NASCAR Stock car Gil de Ferran ( BRA) – CART
John Force ( USA) – NHRA
Buddy Lazier ( USA) – IndyCar 		[17]
2002 A man in his late thirties wearing a red T-shirt emblazoned with the Ferrari logo. Michael Schumacher  GER Formula One Open wheel Hélio Castroneves ( BRA) – CART
Gil de Ferran ( BRA) – CART
John Force ( USA) – NHRA
Jeff Gordon ( USA) – NASCAR
Kevin Harvick ( USA) – NASCAR
Sam Hornish Jr. ( USA) – IndyCar 		[18]
2003 A man in his late twenties is wearing sunglasses along with orange racing overalls and is holding a trophy with both his hands. Tony Stewart  USA NASCAR Stock car John Force ( USA) – NHRA
Gil de Ferran ( BRA) IndyCar
Sam Hornish Jr. ( USA) – IndyCar
Michael Schumacher ( GER) – Formula One 		[19]
2004 A man in his late twenties wearing sunglasses and red racing overalls Dale Earnhardt Jr.  USA NASCAR Stock car Scott Dixon ( NZL) – IndyCar
Matt Kenseth ( USA) – NASCAR
Tony Pedregon ( USA) – NHRA
Michael Schumacher ( GER) – Formula One 		[20]
2005 A man in his late thirties speaking into a microphone Michael Schumacher (2)  GER Formula One Open wheel Greg Anderson ( USA) – NHRA
Kurt Busch ( USA) – NASCAR
Dan Wheldon ( GBR) – IndyCar 		[21]
2006 A man in his mid thirties is wearing orange racing overall and his waving to the crowd with his right hand Tony Stewart (2)  USA NASCAR Stock car Jimmie Johnson ( USA) – NASCAR
Sam Hornish Jr. ( USA) – IndyCar
Melanie Troxel ( USA) – NHRA
Dan Wheldon ( GBR) – IndyCar 		[22][23]
2007 A man in his late thirties with both his arms folded Jeff Gordon (4)  USA NASCAR Stock car Dario Franchitti ( GBR) – IndyCar
Kevin Harvick ( USA) – NASCAR
Jimmie Johnson ( USA) – NASCAR
Tony Schumacher ( USA) – NHRA 		[24]
2008 A man in his early thirties waving to the crowd with his right hand and is wearing white and blue racing overalls along with a similarly colored baseball cap Jimmie Johnson  USA NASCAR Stock car Kyle Busch ( USA) – NASCAR
Scott Dixon ( NZL) – IndyCar
Lewis Hamilton ( GBR) – Formula One
Tony Schumacher ( USA) – NHRA 		[25]
2009 A man in his early thirties signing his autograph for a fan. He is wearing sunglasses and a striped shirt Jimmie Johnson (2)  USA NASCAR Stock car Hélio Castroneves ( BRA) – IndyCar
Scott Dixon ( NZL) – IndyCar
Lewis Hamilton ( GBR) – Formula One
Tony Schumacher ( USA) – NHRA 		[26]
2010 A man in his early thirties looking to the left of the camera. He is wearing a black suit. Jimmie Johnson (3)  USA NASCAR Stock car Kyle Busch ( USA) – NASCAR
Dario Franchitti ( GBR) – IndyCar
Ron Hornaday Jr. ( USA) – NASCAR
Tony Schumacher ( USA) – NHRA 		[27]
2011 A man in his mid thirties speaking into a microphone. He is wearing a red and white baseball cap and a red t-shirt. Jimmie Johnson (4)  USA NASCAR Stock car Greg Anderson ( USA) – NHRA
John Force ( USA) – NHRA
Dario Franchitti ( GBR) – IndyCar 		[28]
2012 A man in his mid forties wearing sunglasses and black and white racing overalls Tony Stewart (3)  USA NASCAR Stock car Dario Franchitti ( GBR) – IndyCar
Sebastian Vettel ( GER) – Formula One
Del Worsham ( USA) – NHRA 		[29]
2013 A man wearing blue and white racing overalls is signing his autograph onto a picture of his race car. Ryan Hunter-Reay  USA IndyCar Series Open wheel Tony Kanaan ( BRA) – IndyCar
Brad Keselowski ( USA) – NASCAR
Sebastian Vettel ( GER) – Formula One 		[30]
2014 A man in his mid thirties is wearing a black baseball car with sponsors and sunglasses over his eyes. He is also wearing yellow racing overalls. Ryan Hunter-Reay (2)  USA IndyCar Series Open wheel Scott Dixon ( NZL) – IndyCar
Dale Earnhardt Jr. ( USA) – NASCAR
John Force ( USA) – NHRA 		[31]
2015 A man in his early forties smiling and waving to the crowd. He is wearing sunglasses along with a red baseball car and similarly colored racing overalls. Kevin Harvick  USA NASCAR Stock car Erica Enders-Stevens ( USA) – NHRA
Lewis Hamilton ( GBR) – Formula One
Juan Pablo Montoya ( COL) – IndyCar
Will Power ( AUS) – IndyCar 		[32]
2016 A man in his thirties being interviewed by the media. He has a green and black baseball cap on his head and is wearing identically colored racing overalls. Kyle Busch  USA NASCAR Stock car Scott Dixon ( NZL) – IndyCar
Erica Enders-Stevens ( USA) – NHRA
Lewis Hamilton ( GBR) – Formula One
Alexander Rossi ( USA) – IndyCar 		[33]
2017 A man in his early thirties wearing a black baseball cap and t-shirt. He has a gold neck chain across his body. Lewis Hamilton  GBR Formula One Open Wheel Ron Capps ( USA) – NHRA
Jimmie Johnson ( USA) – NASCAR
Simon Pagenaud ( FRA) – IndyCar
Martin Truex Jr. ( USA) – NASCAR 		[34]
2018 A bearded man in his mid thirties wearing black sunglasses and a black baseball cap with the number 78 on his right-hand side Martin Truex Jr.  USA NASCAR Stock car racing Brittany Force ( USA) – NHRA
Lewis Hamilton ( GBR) – Formula One
Josef Newgarden ( USA) – IndyCar Series 		[35]
2019 A clean shaven man in his early thirties wearing a black suit, a white shirt and a gray tie Kyle Busch (2)  USA NASCAR Stock car racing Scott Dixon ( NZL) – IndyCar Series
Lewis Hamilton ( GBR) – Formula One
Steve Torrence – ( USA) – NHRA 		[36][37]
2020 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic [9]
2021 A man in his early thirties wearing a black baseball cap and t-shirt. He has a gold neck chain across his body. Lewis Hamilton (2)  GBR Formula One Open Wheel Erica Enders ( USA) – NHRA
Chase Elliott ( USA) – NASCAR
Scott Dixon ( NZL) – IndyCar 		[38]
2022 Kyle Larson  USA NASCAR Stock car racing Álex Palou ( ESP) – IndyCar
Steve Torrence ( USA) – NHRA
Max Verstappen ( NLD) – Formula One 		[39][40]
2023 Max Verstappen  NED Formula One Open Wheel Brittany Force ( USA) - NHRA
Kyle Larson ( USA) - NASCAR
Josef Newgarden ( USA) - IndyCar 		[41][42]

Statistics

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Because of the rescheduling of the ESPY Awards ceremony, the award presented in 2002 was given in consideration of performance betwixt Fethbruary 2001 and June 2002.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Nelson, Murry R. (2013). American Sports: A History of Icons, Idols and Ideas. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 399–401. ISBN 978-0-313-39753-0. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  2. ^ Avard, Christian (August 2, 2013). "Sculptor commissioned to complete Joe Frazier statue has died". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  3. ^ "The 2004 ESPY Awards - Fans to decide all 2004 ESPY Award winners". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  4. ^ "Committee is newly found". ESPN. February 3, 1999. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "New categories unveiled for The 2002 ESPY Awards" (Press release). ESPN. 2002. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Stewart named ESPY 'Driver of the Year.'". crash.net. July 18, 2003. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  7. ^ Rider, Steve (April 10, 2013). "F1 Legends - Nigel Mansell". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  8. ^ Allen, James (May 23, 2013). "Mansell's Indy 500 near-miss". Autosport. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Messer, Lesley (June 19, 2020). "7 ways the 2020 ESPYS will be different amid the pandemic". Good Morning America. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  10. ^ "ESPY nominees". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Vol. 101, no. 21. Associated Press. January 21, 1995. p. 7. Retrieved April 12, 2018 – via Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ McKee, Sandra (February 17, 1996). "Calm in the fast lane Jeff Gordon: Only 24, the Winston Cup champion returns eager and focused to show last season was for real". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  12. ^ Sun Staff and Wire Reports (February 11, 1997). "Sports Briefs: LV's Vasser wins auto racing ESPY". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  13. ^ "Labonte brothers start Daytona racing week in style". The Grapevine Sun. Vol. 103, no. 13. February 12, 1998. p. 3B. Retrieved February 8, 2018 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  14. ^ "McGwire captures three ESPY awards". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Associated Press. February 16, 1999. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
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  17. ^ Kelly, Kevin (February 12, 2001). "Newman earns 4th win in 6 ARCA tries". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
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  19. ^ D. Berto, Victor (July 21, 2003). "Tony Stewart wins the ESPY Awards" (in Portuguese). F1 Mania. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  20. ^ Vega, Michael (July 17, 2004). "New rule gets green light". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  21. ^ Lewandowski, Dave (July 13, 2005). "Drivers proud of ESPY nominations". Indy Racing League. Archived from the original on December 2, 2005. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  22. ^ "2006 ESPY Awards Winners; Steelers earn best team kudo". Variety. July 12, 2006. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  23. ^ "Nominees Announced and Fan Voting Begins for 14th Annual ESPYs". ESPN. June 28, 2006. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  24. ^ "Gordon Talladega Nights Win Espys". Motor Racing Network. July 12, 2007. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  25. ^ Heath, Mitch (July 17, 2008). "Jimmie Johnson Wins ESPN ESPY". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  26. ^ "Johnson repeats as Best Driver in ESPYs" (Press release). Hendrick Motorsports. July 16, 2009. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  27. ^ Martel, Charles (July 15, 2010). "Donovan, Brees Most Awarded in ESPY's Awards 2010". WWNN. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  28. ^ "Friday Top News; Jimmie Johnson Wins "Best Driver" ESPY". Frontstretch. July 14, 2011. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  29. ^ "Stewart wins 2012 'Best Driver' ESPY Award" (Press release). NASCAR. July 12, 2012. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  30. ^ DiZinno, Tony (July 18, 2013). "Hunter-Reay wins ESPY for Best Driver, first for IndyCar since 1997". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  31. ^ "IndyCar: Hunter-Reay joins title hunt after post-Indy depression comes to end". Fox Sports. July 17, 2014. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  32. ^ DeGroot, Nick (July 16, 2015). "Harvick wins ESPY for 'Best Driver'". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  33. ^ Larson, Mike (July 14, 2016). "NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch wins 'Best Driver' ESPY". Autoweek. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  34. ^ "ESPY Awards: Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. July 12, 2017. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  35. ^ Albert, Zack (July 19, 2018). "Martin Truex Jr. named Best Driver at ESPY Awards". NASCAR. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  36. ^ "Kyle Busch Adds Another ESPY Award to Trophy Case". Motor Racing Network. July 11, 2019. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  37. ^ "Kilgore's Steve Torrence among 4 finalists for 'Best Driver' at 2019 ESPY Awards". KYTX. June 25, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  38. ^ "2021 ESPYs Award Winners". ESPN. July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  39. ^ "The 2022 ESPYS Nominees". espnpressroom.com. June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  40. ^ "2022 ESPYS: Full list of award winners". ESPN.com. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  41. ^ "2023 ESPYS: Full list of award winners". ESPN.com. July 13, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  42. ^ "The 2023 ESPYS Nominees". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved August 26, 2023.

External links

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