[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.
Jimmie Johnson has won the award 5 different times, the most in its history.
Kevin Harvick won the award most recently in 2014.
[3] References:[4][5][6] 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