Two-time defending Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is now a first-time ESPY winner. Johnson was honored with the Best Driver award Wednesday night at the 16th annual ESPN-hosted sports awards show at Nokia Theatre.
JohnsonThe ESPYs are determined by online fan voting. Johnson was chosen over current Cup points leader Kyle Busch; 2007 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion -- and now NASCAR rookie -- Dario Franchitti; this year's Indy 500 winner, Scott Dixon; Formula One star Lewis Hamilton; and four-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher.
"I'm so honored the fans voted for me," Johnson said. "There were so many great drivers nominated, and I'm humbled that I was chosen for the ESPY. It was definitely a team effort, and my guys are the best in the garage."
Johnson was nominated for Best Driver last year but lost out to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. Johnson won 10 races in 2007, a career high.
Johnson was NASCAR's only winner Wednesday night. Busch, NASCAR's dominant driver this season with seven Cup victories, five Nationwide Series wins and two in the Craftsman Truck Series, also was nominated in the Best Breakthrough Athlete category. Fans voted that award to Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
The 2007 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway received a nomination in the Best Finish category for Jamie McMurray's .005-second victory over Busch -- the second-closest margin of victory since NASCAR instituted electronic scoring in 1993. The Best Finish honor went to Western Kentucky's first-round NCAA Basketball Tournament win over Drake on a last-second 3-pointer.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Johnson wins Best Driver at 16th annual ESPY show
Ambrose moving to Cup with JTG/Daugherty team
Former NBA star Brad Daugherty will become one of the few black owners of a NASCAR team in the sport's top series.
Daugherty, 42, said Tuesday that he has become a partner in JTG Racing that currently fields two Nationwide Series cars, and that JTG/Daugherty Racing will have a Sprint Cup Series ride in 2009 with driver Marcos Ambrose.
Marcos Ambrose | Brad DaughertyHe said he hopes to announce soon plans for another Nationwide team for the 2009 season with a young area driver.
That is expected to be Coleman Pressley, 19, an Asheville native and JTG Racing employee who drives in the Whelen Series. Pressley is the son of former NASCAR driver Robert Pressley.
Daugherty, played at North Carolina and in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, said he will continue in his role as a NASCAR race analyst with ESPN.
"I'm proud that I'm [one of] the first African-American owners at this level,'' Daugherty said. "I co-founded NASCAR's Diversity council about 15 years ago, and a lot of people have spent a lot of time to make this sport more inclusive.
''I hope this will open some doors for more minorities to become involved in this great sport.''
Ambrose will drive the No. 47 in the Cup Series, and Little Debbie snack cakes will sponsor the car. Ambrose, a 31-year-old racer from Australia, currently drives the No. 59 Ford in the Nationwide Series and is in 13th place in the points standings through 20 races.
Daugherty has had one win as an owner in the then-Busch Series, with Robert Pressley driving in 1989.
Other NASCAR minority owners include NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, who recently bought into a Craftsman Truck Series team, and Sam Belnavis, who owns a small part of Roush Fenway Racing.
Ambrose to drive full time in Cup Series for JTG in '09
Nationwide Series driver Marcos Ambrose will get a full-time Sprint Cup ride in 2009 with the newly formed JTG Daugherty Racing, according to ESPN.com.
Brad Daugherty, a former NBA player who is now a NASCAR analyst for ESPN, has become part-owner of JTG Racing. Next season, the team will continue to field two Nationwide cars but will add a full-time Sprint Cup entry.
Ambrose will drive the No. 47 in the Cup Series, and Little Debbie snack cakes will sponsor the car. Ambrose, a 31-year-old racer from Australia, currently drives the No. 59 Ford in the Nationwide Series and is in 13th place in the points standings through 20 races.
Daugherty has had one win as an owner in the then Busch Series, with Robert Pressley driving in 1989.
