The Driver of the Year Award is an award founded in 1967 by Martini & Rossi. [1] The award is presented to drivers competing in motorsport on four wheels. [2] Today it is privately owned and the voting panel consists of automotive and racing journalists. Mario Andretti won the first award in 1967. Jimmie Johnson has won the award 5 different times, the most in its history. Kevin Harvick won the award most recently in 2014. [3]
1967:
Mario Andretti
1968:
Mark Donohue
1969:
Lee Roy Yarbrough
1970:
Al Unser Sr.
1971:
Richard Petty
1972:
Bobby Allison
1973:
David Pearson
1974:
Bobby Unser
1975:
A. J. Foyt
1976:
David Pearson
1977:
Cale Yarborough
1978:
Mario Andretti
1979:
Darrell Waltrip
1980:
Johnny Rutherford
1981:
Darrell Waltrip
1982:
Darrell Waltrip
1983:
Bobby Rahal
1984:
Mario Andretti
1985:
Bill Elliott
1986:
Bobby Rahal
1987:
Dale Earnhardt
1988:
Bill Elliott
1989:
Emerson Fittipaldi
1990:
Al Unser Jr.
1991:
Michael Andretti
1992:
Bobby Rahal
1993:
Nigel Mansell
1994:
Dale Earnhardt
1995:
Jeff Gordon
1996:
John Force
1997:
Jeff Gordon
1998:
Jeff Gordon
1999:
Dale Jarrett
2000:
Bobby Labonte
2001:
Jeff Gordon
2002:
Cristiano da Matta
2003:
Ryan Newman
2004:
Greg Anderson
2005:
Tony Stewart
2006:
Jimmie Johnson
2007:
Jimmie Johnson
2008:
Tony Schumacher
2009:
Jimmie Johnson
2010:
Jimmie Johnson
2011:
Tony Stewart
2012:
Brad Keselowski
2013:
Jimmie Johnson
2014:
Kevin Harvick