The Driver of the Year Award was an award founded in 1967 by Martini & Rossi. The award was presented to drivers competing in motorsport on four wheels. 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. since then, no award has been given.
References:
1967: Mario Andretti<br> 1968: Mark Donohue<br> 1969: Lee Roy Yarbrough<br> 1970: Al Unser Sr.<br> 1971: Richard Petty<br> 1972: Bobby Allison<br> 1973: David Pearson<br> 1974: Bobby Unser<br> 1975: A. J. Foyt<br> 1976: David Pearson<br> 1977: Cale Yarborough<br> 1978: Mario Andretti<br> 1979: Darrell Waltrip<br> 1980: Johnny Rutherford<br> 1981: Darrell Waltrip<br> 1982: Darrell Waltrip<br> 1983: Bobby Rahal<br> 1984: Mario Andretti<br> 1985: Bill Elliott<br> 1986: Bobby Rahal<br> 1987: Dale Earnhardt<br> 1988: Bill Elliott<br> 1989: Emerson Fittipaldi<br> 1990: Al Unser Jr.<br> 1991: Michael Andretti<br> 1992: Bobby Rahal<br> 1993: Nigel Mansell<br> 1994: Dale Earnhardt<br> 1995: Jeff Gordon<br> 1996: John Force<br> 1997: Jeff Gordon<br> 1998: Jeff Gordon<br> 1999: Dale Jarrett<br> 2000: Bobby Labonte<br> 2001: Jeff Gordon<br> 2002: Cristiano da Matta<br> 2003: Ryan Newman<br> 2004: Greg Anderson<br> 2005: Tony Stewart<br> 2006: Jimmie Johnson<br> 2007: Jimmie Johnson<br> 2008: Tony Schumacher<br> 2009: Jimmie Johnson<br> 2010: Jimmie Johnson<br> 2011: Tony Stewart<br> 2012: Brad Keselowski<br> 2013: Jimmie Johnson<br> 2014: Kevin Harvick