James: Danica's Topsy-Turvy Season
Danica Patrick's much anticipated first full season in NASCAR had its highs -- OK, near-highs -- and lows. And then there was the shoe, writes Brant James. Story
• Gallery: Danica's year in review
• Hot Button: Ready or not?
Patrick said it was nice to win the award, but her goal was to win the Nationwide title.
"Its nice to win this in the meantime," she said.
Nelson Piquet Jr. earned the honor for the Camping World Truck series. The awards were announced during a banquet in Miami on Monday.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Patrick's Nationwide car owner this past season, has been voted the most popular Sprint Cup driver for the past nine seasons.
The Sprint Cup awards ceremony is slated for Nov. 30 in Las Vegas. Brad Keselowski clinched his first Cup title in Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday. Next season Patrick is set to become the first woman to compete full time in the Sprint Cup Series, driving the No. 10 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing.
During the banquet Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Nationwide) and James Buescher (Trucks) were officially proclaimed champions of their respective series.
Stenhouse became the first driver since Martin Truex Jr. in 2005 to win back-to-back titles in the Nationwide series. Sam Ard (1983-84), Larry Pearson (1986-87), Randy LaJoie (1996-97) and Earnhardt Jr. (1998-99) also accomplished the feat.
Austin Dillon won Nationwide Rookie of the Year honors, while younger brother Ty Dillon was the top newcomer in the Truck Series. Information from ESPN.com NASCAR writer David Newton and The Associated Press was used in this report.
