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Best Driver ESPY Award

Annual athletic award

Annual athletic award

FieldValue
nameBest Driver ESPY Award
awarded_forRacing driver of the year
presenterESPN
locationLos Angeles (2019)
year1993
year2
holderMax Verstappen
website

The Best Driver ESPY Award, known alternatively as the Best Auto Racing Driver ESPY Award, is an annual award honoring the achievements of an individual from the world of motorsports. It was first awarded as part of the ESPY Awards in 1993. The Best Driver ESPY Award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan, has been presented annually to the racing driver adjudged to have performed the best in a given calendar year. Since 2004, the winner has been chosen by online voting through three to five choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee. Before that, determination of the winners was made by an panel of experts. Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.{{#tag:ref|Because of the rescheduling of the ESPY Awards ceremony, the award presented in 2002 was given in consideration of performance betwixt Fethbruary 2001 and June 2002.

The inaugural winner of the award was British driver Nigel Mansell who finished the 1992 season with a then record-breaking nine wins and fourteen pole positions en route to winning his sole Formula One World Drivers' Championship. Mansell moved to the Championship Auto Racing Teams the following year, and won the series title at the first attempt, earning him a second ESPY Award in 1994. The most recent winner of the award was Formula One driver Max Verstappen who won the award in 2025, his third consecutive award.

Winners and nominees

YearImageDriverNationalityRacing seriesType of vehicleOther nomineesRef(2)(2)(3)(2)(2)(4)(2)(3)(4)(3)(2)(2)(2)(2)(3)
[1993](1993-in-sports)[[File:Nigelcropped.jpg100pxalt=A mustached man in his late thirties is wearing blue racing overall and is looking at the camera.]]GBRFormula OneOpen wheelN/Atitle=Stewart named ESPY 'Driver of the Year.'url=http://www.crash.net/nascar/news/87660/1/stewart-named-espy-driver-of-the-yearpublisher=crash.netdate=July 18, 2003accessdate=December 20, 2017url-status=livearchiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051556/http://www.crash.net/nascar/news/87660/1/stewart-named-espy-driver-of-the-yeararchivedate=December 22, 2017df=mdy-all}}
[1994](1994-in-sports)[[File:Nigel Mansell 2007 cropped.jpg100pxalt=A man in his early fifties is wearing a black baseball cap and is smiling at the camera.]]GBRCARTOpen wheelN/A
[1995](1995-in-sports)[[File:Al Unser Jr 2011 Indianapolis.JPG100pxalt=A man in his late forties smiling at the camera.]]USACARTOpen wheelDale Earnhardt (USA) – NASCAR
Michael Schumacher (GER) – Formula Oneurl=https://newspaperarchive.com/bluefield-daily-telegraph-jan-21-1995-p-23/title=ESPY nomineesdate=January 21, 1995work=Bluefield Daily Telegraphaccess-date=April 12, 2018agency=Associated Presspage=7volume=101issue=21url-access=subscriptionvia=Newspaper Archive}}
[1996](1996-in-sports)[[File:1995 Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon NASCAR Photography By Darryl Moran.jpg100pxalt=A man in his early twenties smiling at the camera.]]USANASCARStock carMichael Schumacher (GER) – Formula One
Jacques Villeneuve (CAN) – CART
[1997](1997-in-sports)USACARTOpen wheelTerry Labonte (USA) – NASCAR
Damon Hill (GBR) – Formula One
[1998](1998-in-sports)[[File:Jeff Gordon - NASCAR 1997.jpg100pxalt=A man in his mid-twenties wearing sunglasses and rainbow-colored racing overalls]]USANASCARStock carN/A
[1999](1999-in-sports)[[File:Jeff Gordon 1998 by Darryl Moran.jpg100pxalt=A man his late twenties wearing rainbow colored racing overalls. He has his left hand on his left hip and his right hand leaning against a solid surface.]]USANASCARStock carDale Earnhardt (USA) – NASCAR
Mark Martin (USA) – NASCAR
[2000](2000-in-sports)[[File:Dale Jarrett 1997.jpg100pxalt=A mustached man in his early forties wearing sunglasses and blue and red racing overalls]]USANASCARStock carJohn Force (USA) – NHRA
Juan Pablo Montoya (COL) – CART
[2001](2001-in-sports)[[File:BobbyLabonte2006.jpg100pxalt=A man in his early forties wearing yellow racing overall and he is holding a HANS device]]USANASCARStock carGil de Ferran (BRA) – CART
John Force (USA) – NHRA
Buddy Lazier (USA) – IndyCar
[2002](2002-in-sports)[[File:Michael Schumacher-I'm the man (cropped).jpg100pxalt=A man in his late thirties wearing a red T-shirt emblazoned with the Ferrari logo.]]GERFormula OneOpen wheelHélio Castroneves (BRA) – CART
Gil de Ferran (BRA) – CART
John Force (USA) – NHRA
Jeff Gordon (USA) – NASCAR
Kevin Harvick (USA) – NASCAR
Sam Hornish Jr. (USA) – IndyCar
[2003](2003-in-sports)[[File:FEMA - 598 - Photograph by Kevin Thorne taken on 10-01-2000 in Virginia.jpg100pxalt=A man in his late twenties is wearing sunglasses along with orange racing overalls and is holding a trophy with both his hands.]]USANASCARStock carJohn Force (USA) – NHRA
Gil de Ferran (BRA) IndyCar
Sam Hornish Jr. (USA) – IndyCar
Michael Schumacher (GER) – Formula One
[2004](2004-in-sports)[[File:Daleearnhardtjr.jpg100pxalt=A man in his late twenties wearing sunglasses and red racing overalls]]USANASCARStock carScott Dixon (NZL) – IndyCar
Matt Kenseth (USA) – NASCAR
Tony Pedregon (USA) – NHRA
Michael Schumacher (GER) – Formula One
[2005](2005-espy-awards)[[File:Michael Schumacher 01 (sk).jpg100pxalt=A man in his late thirties speaking into a microphone]]GERFormula OneOpen wheelGreg Anderson (USA) – NHRA
Kurt Busch (USA) – NASCAR
Dan Wheldon (GBR) – IndyCar
[2006](2006-in-sports)[[File:TonyStewartAugust2007.jpg100pxalt=A man in his mid thirties is wearing orange racing overall and his waving to the crowd with his right hand]]USANASCARStock carJimmie Johnson (USA) – NASCAR
Sam Hornish Jr. (USA) – IndyCar
Melanie Troxel (USA) – NHRA
Dan Wheldon (GBR) – IndyCar
[2007](2007-in-sports)[[File:National Guard Bureau.jpg100pxalt=A man in his late thirties with both his arms folded]]USANASCARStock carDario Franchitti (GBR) – IndyCar
Kevin Harvick (USA) – NASCAR
Jimmie Johnson (USA) – NASCAR
Tony Schumacher (USA) – NHRA
[2008](2008-in-sports)[[File:JimmieJohnsonAugust2007 cropped.jpg100pxalt=A man in his early thirties waving to the crowd with his right hand and is wearing white and blue racing overalls along with a similarly colored baseball cap]]USANASCARStock carKyle Busch (USA) – NASCAR
Scott Dixon (NZL) – IndyCar
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) – Formula One
Tony Schumacher (USA) – NHRA
[2009](2009-in-sports)[[File:Jimmie Johnson 2008 Talladega.jpg100pxalt=A man in his early thirties signing his autograph for a fan. He is wearing sunglasses and a striped shirt]]USANASCARStock carHélio Castroneves (BRA) – IndyCar
Scott Dixon (NZL) – IndyCar
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) – Formula One
Tony Schumacher (USA) – NHRA
[2010](2010-in-sports)[[File:Jimmie Johnson.jpg100pxalt=A man in his early thirties looking to the left of the camera. He is wearing a black suit.]]USANASCARStock carKyle Busch (USA) – NASCAR
Dario Franchitti (GBR) – IndyCar
Ron Hornaday Jr. (USA) – NASCAR
Tony Schumacher (USA) – NHRA
[2011](2011-in-sports)[[File:Jimmie Johnson, Richmond 2011 (cropped).jpg100pxalt=A man in his mid thirties speaking into a microphone. He is wearing a red and white baseball cap and a red t-shirt.]]USANASCARStock carGreg Anderson (USA) – NHRA
John Force (USA) – NHRA
Dario Franchitti (GBR) – IndyCar
[2012](2012-in-sports)[[File:TSM350 - 2015 - Tony Stewart - 1 - Stierch.jpg100pxalt=A man in his mid forties wearing sunglasses and black and white racing overalls]]USANASCARStock carDario Franchitti (GBR) – IndyCar
Sebastian Vettel (GER) – Formula One
Del Worsham (USA) – NHRA
[2013](2013-in-sports)[[File:PLM12 Ryan Hunter-Reay.jpg100pxalt=A man wearing blue and white racing overalls is signing his autograph onto a picture of his race car.]]USAIndyCar SeriesOpen wheelTony Kanaan (BRA) – IndyCar
Brad Keselowski (USA) – NASCAR
Sebastian Vettel (GER) – Formula One
[2014](2014-in-sports)[[File:GoPro Grand Prix 2015 33 - Stierch.jpg100pxalt=A man in his mid thirties is wearing a black baseball car with sponsors and sunglasses over his eyes. He is also wearing yellow racing overalls.]]USAIndyCar SeriesOpen wheelScott Dixon (NZL) – IndyCar
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (USA) – NASCAR
John Force (USA) – NHRA
[2015](2015-espy-awards)[[File:TSM350 - 2015 - Kevin Harvick - Stierch 4 Cropped.jpg100pxalt=A man in his early forties smiling and waving to the crowd. He is wearing sunglasses along with a red baseball car and similarly colored racing overalls.]]USANASCARStock carErica Enders-Stevens (USA) – NHRA
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) – Formula One
Juan Pablo Montoya (COL) – IndyCar
Will Power (AUS) – IndyCar
[2016](2016-in-sports)[[File:TSM - Kyle Busch - 2015 - Stierch - 07.jpg100pxA man in his thirties being interviewed by the media. He has a green and black baseball cap on his head and is wearing identically colored racing overalls.]]USANASCARStock carScott Dixon (NZL) – IndyCar
Erica Enders-Stevens (USA) – NHRA
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) – Formula One
Alexander Rossi (USA) – IndyCar
[2017](2017-in-sports)[[File:Lewis Hamilton 2016 Malaysia 2.jpg100pxalt=A man in his early thirties wearing a black baseball cap and t-shirt. He has a gold neck chain across his body.]]GBRFormula OneOpen WheelRon Capps (USA) – NHRA
Jimmie Johnson (USA) – NASCAR
Simon Pagenaud (FRA) – IndyCar
Martin Truex Jr. (USA) – NASCARtitle=ESPY Awards: Complete Winners Listurl=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/espy-awards-2017-complete-winners-list-1019813/item/espys-nominations-best-male-athlete-1015705work=The Hollywood Reporterdate=July 12, 2017accessdate=December 20, 2017url-status=livearchiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052820/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/espy-awards-2017-complete-winners-list-1019813/item/espys-nominations-best-male-athlete-1015705archivedate=December 22, 2017df=mdy-all}}
[2018](2018-in-sports)[[File:TSM350 - 2015 - Martin Truex Jr. - 1 - Stierch.jpg100pxalt=A bearded man in his mid thirties wearing black sunglasses and a black baseball cap with the number 78 on his right-hand side]]USANASCARStock car racingBrittany Force (USA) – NHRA
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) – Formula One
Josef Newgarden (USA) – IndyCar Serieslast=Albertfirst=Zacktitle=Martin Truex Jr. named Best Driver at ESPY Awardsurl=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/07/18/martin-truex-jr-named-best-driver-espy-awards/publisher=NASCARdate=19 July 2018accessdate=19 July 2018archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719051324/https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/07/18/martin-truex-jr-named-best-driver-espy-awards/archivedate=19 July 2018url-status=live}}
[2019](2019-espy-awards)[[File:Kyle Busch (30103820550) - Cropped.jpg100pxalt=A clean shaven man in his early thirties wearing a black suit, a white shirt and a gray tie]]USANASCARStock car racingScott Dixon (NZL) – IndyCar Series
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) – Formula One
Steve Torrence – (USA) – NHRAtitle=Kyle Busch Adds Another ESPY Award to Trophy Caseurl=https://www.mrn.com/2019/07/11/kyle-busch-adds-another-espy-award-to-trophy-case/publisher=Motor Racing Networkdate=July 11, 2019accessdate=July 12, 2019url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712140733/https://www.mrn.com/2019/07/11/kyle-busch-adds-another-espy-award-to-trophy-case/archive-date=July 12, 2019 }}
[2020](2020-espy-awards)*Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic*
[2021](2021-espy-awards)[[File:Lewis Hamilton 2016 Malaysia 2.jpg100pxalt=A man in his early thirties wearing a black baseball cap and t-shirt. He has a gold neck chain across his body.]]GBRFormula OneOpen WheelErica Enders (USA) – NHRA
Chase Elliott (USA) – NASCAR
Scott Dixon (NZL) – IndyCartitle=2021 ESPYs Award Winnersurl=https://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/page/voting-winners/2021-espys-award-winnerswork=ESPNdate=July 10, 2021accessdate=July 10, 2021}}
[2022](2022-espy-awards)[[File:Kyle Larson Auto Club 2022.jpg100px]]USANASCARStock car racingÁlex Palou (ESP) – IndyCar
Steve Torrence (USA) – NHRA
Max Verstappen (NLD) – Formula One
[2023](2023-espy-awards)[[File:Max Verstappen 2017 Malaysia 3.jpg100px]]NEDFormula OneOpen WheelBrittany Force (USA) – NHRA
Kyle Larson (USA) – NASCAR
Josef Newgarden (USA) – IndyCar
[2024](2024-espy-awards)[[File:Max Verstappen 2017 Malaysia 3.jpg100px]]NEDFormula OneOpen WheelRyan Blaney (USA) – NASCAR
Matt Hagan (USA) – NHRA
Álex Palou (ESP) – IndyCar
[2025](2025-espy-awards)[[File:2024-08-25 Motorsport, Formel 1, Großer Preis der Niederlande 2024 STP 3973 by Stepro (medium crop).jpg100px]]NEDFormula OneOpen WheelJoey Logano (USA) – NASCAR
Álex Palou (ESP) – IndyCar
Oscar Piastri (AUS) – Formula One

Statistics

NationWinnersNominationsUSAGBRNLDGERBRANZLCOLESPAUSCANFRA
2372
417
34
28
06
07
02
02
01
01
01
SeriesWinnersNominationsNASCARFormula OneIndyCarCARTNHRA
1939
820
229
38
023
NameWinsNominations
47
45
34
33
28
26
24
22
22
13
12
07
06
04
04
03
03
03
02
02
02
02
02
02
02

Notes

References

References

  1. Nelson, Murry R.. (2013). "American Sports: A History of Icons, Idols and Ideas". [[ABC-CLIO]].
  2. Avard, Christian. (August 2, 2013). "Sculptor commissioned to complete Joe Frazier statue has died". [[Barre Montpelier Times Argus]].
  3. "The 2004 ESPY Awards - Fans to decide all 2004 ESPY Award winners". [[ESPN]].
  4. (February 3, 1999). "Committee is newly found". ESPN.
  5. (2002). "New categories unveiled for The 2002 ESPY Awards". ESPN.
  6. Rider, Steve. (April 10, 2013). "F1 Legends - Nigel Mansell". [[Sky Sports]].
  7. Allen, James. (May 23, 2013). "Mansell's Indy 500 near-miss". [[Autosport]].
  8. (July 18, 2003). "Stewart named ESPY 'Driver of the Year.'". crash.net.
  9. McKee, Sandra. (February 17, 1996). "Calm in the fast lane Jeff Gordon: Only 24, the Winston Cup champion returns eager and focused to show last season was for real". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
  10. Sun Staff and Wire Reports. (February 11, 1997). "Sports Briefs: LV's Vasser wins auto racing ESPY". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
  11. (February 12, 1998). "Labonte brothers start Daytona racing week in style". The Grapevine Sun.
  12. (February 16, 1999). "McGwire captures three ESPY awards". [[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]].
  13. (December 17, 1998). "Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin Nominated for ESPYs".
  14. Buck, Ron. (February 14, 2000). "Daily Dish: Dale & Dale show at the ESPYs". ESPN.
  15. Kelly, Kevin. (February 12, 2001). "Newman earns 4th win in 6 ARCA tries". [[San Francisco Chronicle]].
  16. Armijo, Mark. (June 21, 2002). "Schumacher is top ESPY nominee". [[Arizona Republic]].
  17. D. Berto, Victor. (July 21, 2003). "Tony Stewart wins the ESPY Awards". F1 Mania.
  18. Vega, Michael. (July 17, 2004). "New rule gets green light". [[The Boston Globe]].
  19. Lewandowski, Dave. (July 13, 2005). "Drivers proud of ESPY nominations". [[INDYCAR.
  20. (July 12, 2006). "2006 ESPY Awards Winners; Steelers earn best team kudo". [[Variety (magazine).
  21. (June 28, 2006). "Nominees Announced and Fan Voting Begins for 14th Annual ESPYs". ESPN.
  22. (July 12, 2007). "Gordon Talladega Nights Win Espys". [[Motor Racing Network]].
  23. Heath, Mitch. (July 17, 2008). "Jimmie Johnson Wins ESPN ESPY". [[Bleacher Report]].
  24. (July 16, 2009). "Johnson repeats as Best Driver in ESPYs". [[Hendrick Motorsports]].
  25. Martel, Charles. (July 15, 2010). "Donovan, Brees Most Awarded in ESPY's Awards 2010". WWNN.
  26. (July 14, 2011). "Friday Top News; Jimmie Johnson Wins "Best Driver" ESPY". Frontstretch.
  27. (July 12, 2012). "Stewart wins 2012 'Best Driver' ESPY Award". NASCAR.
  28. DiZinno, Tony. (July 18, 2013). "Hunter-Reay wins ESPY for Best Driver, first for IndyCar since 1997". [[NBC Sports]].
  29. (July 17, 2014). "IndyCar: Hunter-Reay joins title hunt after post-Indy depression comes to end". [[Fox Sports (United States).
  30. DeGroot, Nick. (July 16, 2015). "Harvick wins ESPY for 'Best Driver'".
  31. Larson, Mike. (July 14, 2016). "NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch wins 'Best Driver' ESPY". [[Autoweek]].
  32. (July 12, 2017). "ESPY Awards: Complete Winners List". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
  33. Albert, Zack. (19 July 2018). "Martin Truex Jr. named Best Driver at ESPY Awards". NASCAR.
  34. (July 11, 2019). "Kyle Busch Adds Another ESPY Award to Trophy Case". Motor Racing Network.
  35. (June 25, 2019). "Kilgore's Steve Torrence among 4 finalists for 'Best Driver' at 2019 ESPY Awards". [[KYTX]].
  36. (July 10, 2021). "2021 ESPYs Award Winners". [[ESPN]].
  37. (June 28, 2022). "The 2022 ESPYS Nominees".
  38. (July 20, 2022). "2022 ESPYS: Full list of award winners".
  39. (2023-07-13). "2023 ESPYS: Full list of award winners".
  40. "The 2023 ESPYS Nominees".
  41. (June 26, 2024). "The 2024 ESPYS Nominees".
  42. (July 11, 2024). "2024 ESPYS: Here is the list of winners".
  43. Bregman, Scott. (15 July 2025). "ESPYS 2025: Nominees, times, and how to watch the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly awards ceremony live". [[International Olympic Committee]].
  44. (2025-07-17). "Full list of every ESPYS 2025 Award winner".
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