Tony Stewart tabbed 2011 NMPA Richard Petty Driver of the Year

Tony Stewart put together one of the most exciting NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons in recent history, riding a late wave of success to win his third title.

Not only did he top the Sprint Cup field in the championship race, but he has also been named the winner of the NMPA Richard Petty Driver of the Year award.

It’s the third time the membership of the National Motorsports Press Association has voted Stewart as the winner of the award, which has been given since 1969.

The announcement was made Sunday during the NMPA’s annual convention in Charlotte, N.C.

“It’s an honor to have earned the 2011 NMPA Richard Petty Driver of the Year award,” Stewart said. “Everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing took the opportunity we had of being in the Chase and made the most of it. We took each race one at a time and never quit. It made all the difference. This award is as much theirs as it is mine.”

During the 2011 season, Stewart earned a series-leading five wins, all during the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He posted 19 top-10 finishes, including nine top-fives.

Stewart also won this honor in 2002 and 2005.

Also receiving votes were Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch.

Determined by vote of the membership, the Richard Petty Driver of the Year award has been presented annually since 1969 to recognize the season’s most outstanding driver. It is named in honor of NASCAR’s all-time leader in Cup victories.

Jeff Gordon named 2011 NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award winner

            Jeff Gordon is the recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award for 2011 for his work with children’s health issues.

Gordon was among four quarterly winners for the award and chosen by NMPA members as the overall winner for the year.

The NMPA Spirit Award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports.

Gordon has always taken an interest in children’s health issues through his Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Treatment Research, but those efforts expanded in 2011.

Gordon brought a hands-on approach to his work with children this summer.

Working with the Clinton Global Initiative, Gordon traveled to a refugee camp in the Congo in July in an effort aid with health issues. He witnessed first-hand what children in the area face and offered his personal assistance to the program.

Other quarterly winners in 2011 were:

JTG Daugherty Racing was honored in the first quarter. Driver Bobby Labonte and his team embraced a 6-year-old girl seeking a bone marrow donor and others needing a similar transplant. The team visited her in the hospital and put her photo and the"www.getswabbed.org” site on the car for the Budweiser Shootout in an effort to raise awareness for both her fight and the need for donors overall.

Jamie McMurray was recognized in the second quarter. Personally impacted by the tornados that devastated his hometown of Joplin, Mo., McMurray got involved with raising awareness and funds through promotion of Convoy of Hope, then visited the area and met with residents in an effort to raise spirits as well. 

Greg Biffle was the fourth-quarter recipient. Biffle teamed with several partners to provide Charlotte-area children the opportunity to receive free dental care during the October race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Give Kids A Smile program was aimed at helping more than 200 young fans.