Jimmie Johnson Wins 4th Quarter Driver Of The Year Award

When Jimmie Johnson learned that he won the 4th Quarter, DRIVER OF THE YEAR – 2007, by a highly unusual unanimous vote he was surprised. He was probably the only person to be astonished by that fact.

In the last quarter Johnson (who went on to beat his teammate, Jeff Gordon for his second-straight, Nextel Cup Title) he went on a tear, winning four-in-row.

Johnson, who drives the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, said “it’s quite an honor, again, and I’m a little surprised at the vote” he thought of many other rival drivers in other series might have received similar recognition. As a result of his ten wins in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series he’s a favorite for the year-end vote.

In a very rare situation Johnson tallied all 17 votes first-place votes cast in the fourth quarter ballot. He beat France’s, Sebastien Bourdais, by more than double the points 153 to 72. Bourdais had two victories on his way a fourth-straight Champ Car World Series title in the McDonald’s Panoz/Cosworth. He’ll be saying adieu to the series as he is going to drive in Formula One next year. Jeff Gordon, Johnson’s teammate, had two wins in the period in the #24 Dupont Chevrolet and tallied 48 points.    
             
Barry Schmoyer, President of the Driver of the Year Foundation, noted “the unanimous vote of the panel is such an uncommon occurrence it speaks volumes about how Johnson and his team dominated in such a hard-fought time period. The panel is made up of such a diverse group of persons, to earn all their votes is virtually unprecedented."

Fourth place went to Donny Schatz from the World of Outlaws. Drag Racing’s Tony Schumacher and NASCAR’s Kyle Busch were fifth and sixth. A total of 19 drivers scored points in the fourth quarter voting.

In its’ 41st year, the DRIVER OF THE YEAR title is unique. A panel of 18 leading journalists from across the U.S. determine the winner.