With the checkered flag ready to wave on the 2005 racing season Speed Channel’s Driver of the Year Award Award presented by Gillette M3 Power Nitro fourth quarter nominations were announced. While some champions were crowned before their season ending events the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship battle is turning intense. As a result four stock car drivers dominate in the fan vote. Tony Stewart, whose white-hot third quarter performance earned him the earned him the coveted SCDOTY award and put him on top of the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings, was still leading with two races remaining. Close on his heels were Jimmie Johnson and mister back flip, Carl Edwards. Mark Martin refusing to give up on his title hopes also clinched the IROC series title in this quarter proving his versatility.
Nominated drivers also include Sebastien Bourdais (Champ Car), Steve Kinser (World of Outlaws), Tony Schumacher (NHRA) and Dan Wheldon (IRL). In its 39th year, the Speed Channel Driver of the Year Award 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 www.speedtv.com. The voting process is unique in the world of auto racing and provides fans a method of sharing their opinion in awarding the honor. At the end of the year a special, separate, vote will be held for the SPEED Channel 2005 Driver of the Year Award presented by Gillette M3 Power Nitro. The panelists will have their quarterly vote in the next two weeks and the fan vote will close at that time.(DOTY PR)(11-12-2005)
