As NASCARs #48-Jimmie Johnsons season results accelerated he became the undisputed winner in the vote for the second quarter Driver of the Year Award 2013. The five-time Sprint Cup Champion tallied more than twice the points of his nearest challenger in the regular quarterly voting by an elite panel of American broadcasters and journalists. Johnson bookended the period (May 18 to July 7) which coincided with the Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and ended with the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, with victories in those events. Despite all the titles and accolades Johnson appreciated the medias acknowledgement of his achievement. Its always nice to be recognized for the work we do’ said Johnson. ‘The #48 Lowes crew has been performing every week and we have had some big wins including the All-Star race. Im proud of the work our entire team has put in and its showing on the track.” Barry Schmoyer, President of the Driver of the Year Foundation, commented ‘if you looked up the definition of champion, on and off the track, youd find Jimmie Johnson there. His drive for six titles certainly picked up speed as the summer season began.” In the voting the 37-year old Johnson, who drives a Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports, had 14 first-place ballots and totaled 147 points according to the Driver of the Year points system. Ryan Hunter-Reay, who drives the DHL Dallara-Chevrolet for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar series, had one first-place vote and tallied 65 points. Tony Kanaan, the Indy 500 winner who drives for KV Racing Technology Dallara-Chevrolet, finished third with two first-place votes and 64 points. NASCAR driver, Matt Kenseth, winner of the first quarter Driver of the Year also had one first-place vote. A total of 23 drivers scored points in the second quarter voting. In its 47th year, the Driver of the Year title is unique. The panel of 18 leading journalists and broadcasters from across the U.S. determines the winner. In quarterly voting, points are awarded on a declining 9, 6, 4,3,2,1 basis. Johnson will receive a trophy and a Tissot wristwatch to be presented at a race weekend at to be determined. President of the Driver of the Year Foundation is Barry Schmoyer, businessman and sportsman of Sarasota, Florida.(DOTY PR)
