In the heat of the summer championship races also fired up as SpeedTV’s Driver of the Year Award third quarter nominations are announced. Tony Stewart’s drive to the top of the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings excited fans not only from both coasts, but, also his home state supporters with his victory at the Allstate 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Driving the #20-Home Depot Chevrolet, for Joe Gibbs Racing, “Smoke” garnered victories at all kinds of tracks. The list of nominated drivers also includes Sebastien Bourdais (Champ Car), Tony Kanaan (IndyCar Series), Steve Kinser (World of Outlaws), Eric Medlin (NHRA), Ryan Newman (NASAR), Dennis Setzer (NASCAR) and Martin Truex Jr. (NASCAR). In its 39th year, the Speed Channel Driver of the Year’s award for this quarter will be determined by an independent vote of the 18-member panel of blue ribbon auto racing journalists and broadcasters and one vote based on the cumulative tally of fans’ voting at speedtv.com.
At the end of the year a special, separate, vote will be held for the SPEED Channel 2005 Driver of the Year. The panelists will have their quarterly vote on September 14th and the fan vote will close soon thereafter.(Speed Channel)(9-3-2005)
