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.[1] It was first awarded as part of the
ESPY Awards in 1993.[1] The Best Driver ESPY Award trophy, designed by sculptor
Lawrence Nowlan,[2] has been presented annually to the racing driver adjudged to have performed the best in a given
calendar year.[1] Since 2004, the winner has been chosen by online voting through three to five choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee.[3] Before that, determination of the winners was made by an panel of experts.[4] 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.[n 1][5]
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.[6][7] Mansell moved to the
Championship Auto Racing Teams the following year, and won the series title at the first attempt,[8] earning him a second ESPY Award in 1994.[6] Mansell is one of six drivers to have won the award more than once. As of 2022[update], multiple
NASCAR Cup Series champions
Jeff Gordon (1996, 1998, 1999, 2007) and his teammate
Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) have won the most awards with four each.
NASCAR drivers have won more awards than any other motorsports series, with nineteen victories, followed by
Formula One with five wins. It was not awarded in
2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The most recent winner of the award was Formula One driver
Max Verstappen who won the award in
2024.
^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.[5]
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.[1] It was first awarded as part of the
ESPY Awards in 1993.[1] The Best Driver ESPY Award trophy, designed by sculptor
Lawrence Nowlan,[2] has been presented annually to the racing driver adjudged to have performed the best in a given
calendar year.[1] Since 2004, the winner has been chosen by online voting through three to five choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee.[3] Before that, determination of the winners was made by an panel of experts.[4] 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.[n 1][5]
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.[6][7] Mansell moved to the
Championship Auto Racing Teams the following year, and won the series title at the first attempt,[8] earning him a second ESPY Award in 1994.[6] Mansell is one of six drivers to have won the award more than once. As of 2022[update], multiple
NASCAR Cup Series champions
Jeff Gordon (1996, 1998, 1999, 2007) and his teammate
Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) have won the most awards with four each.
NASCAR drivers have won more awards than any other motorsports series, with nineteen victories, followed by
Formula One with five wins. It was not awarded in
2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The most recent winner of the award was Formula One driver
Max Verstappen who won the award in
2024.
^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.[5]