Reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Wins Best Driver
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 19, 2018) – 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. added another trophy to his collection at last night’s 26th annual ESPY Awards, winning Best Driver in the preeminent event celebrating the greatest achievements and performances in sports.
No stranger to Victory Lane – or to a nomination in this category – Truex received the most votes in the category consisting of IndyCar’s Josef Newgarden, Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton and the NHRA’s Brittany Force. Former NASCAR competitor Danica Patrick was also on hand as host of the live broadcast.
Most recently, NASCAR drivers scored back-to-back wins in the Best Driver category with Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Past honorees also include Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt. Jr.
Truex has proven to be a formidable opponent and championship contender again this season, emerging victorious as recently as last weekend at Kentucky Speedway. With four wins and 13 top-five finishes in the first half alone, he’s already locked to make his fourth consecutive appearance in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Truex overcame incredible odds last year to win the coveted title, including the untimely passing of a crew member, his long-time girlfriend Sherry Pollex’s ongoing battle with cancer, and team owner Barney Visser’s heart attack that sidelined him for the end of the season. Despite these challenges off the track, he posted a career-best performance of eight victories and beat three former champions in Miami to capture his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
Tune-in to NBCSN this Sunday, July 22 at 2 p.m. ET to watch Truex and NASCAR’s best at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, or listen live on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), three regional series, one local grassroots series, three international series and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).
