#14-Tony Stewart was voted both 2011 Driver of the Year and Fourth Quarter winner, respectively, by an elite panel of broadcasters and journalists. Unlike this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, decided in a tiebreaker, the voting in the Annual – as well as the fourth quarter – were landslides. Stewart was also voted Driver of the Year in 2005 after his second NASCAR Sprint Cup title. The Columbus, Ind., native put on a performance not seen before in the Chase with five wins in the season’s final 10 races in the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy. Stewart, who in his third season as co-owner Stewart-Haas Racing with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas, was quick to credit his team for the title at NASCAR’s Award banquet. Upon learning of taking both the final quarter and the coveted Driver of the Year AWARD for the second time Stewart said, “I have a lot of pride in this. This is an award that comes from a highly esteemed group. These are the awards that mean the most.” Commenting on the Chase Stewart added “The last quarter was a history maker, for sure. There are so many champions honored this way (the Award). It’s just amazing I don’t know how to put it words. It’s truly an honor.”
It’s certainly ironic that last year’s vote involved a spirited debate, but this year’s was a slam dunk,” said Driver of the Year president Barry Schmoyer. “Stewart’s come from behind victory at Homestead will thrill fans for ages,” Schmoyer added. Journalist and broadcasters, who voted in a secret ballot for a single driver, gave Stewart 15 votes, Carl Edwards, Dario Franchitti, Jason Meyers and Del Worsham all received one vote. In the quarterly voting Stewart beat Edwards and Meyers (162-73-51, respectively) getting all but one of the first place votes.
In its’ 45th year, the Driver of the Year title is unique because it is the original award of its’ type that encompasses all of the racing series and all of the drivers in the United States. A panel of 20 leading journalists and broadcasters from across the U.S. are eligible to vote. One vote was not tabulated this year. Stewart will receive his trophies and Tissot wristwatches at presentations at places and times to be announced later.(DOTY)(12-13-2011)
