Jimmie Johnson, who drove to a record-tying third consecutive Sprint Cup championship, is Sporting News’ 2008 Driver of the Year. Sporting News’ voting was conducted by a panel of 14 drivers, 14 crew chiefs and three owners from the Sprint Cup Series. The full awards appear in the new issue of Sporting News magazine, which hits newsstands later this week. Sporting News’ other winners: “ Dale Earnhardt Tough Driver of the Year: Carl Edwards “ Owner of the year: Rick Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports “ Rookie of the Year: Regan Smith “ Crew chief of the year: Chad Knaus.(Sporting News)(12-3-2008)
