Drivers of The Year
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Carl Edwards
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Despite playing the game at Talladega in October, Carl Edwards had one of the best seasons of any of the options in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Edwards was able to click off some victories and gain an all important victory at Texas that would send him to Homestead to compete for the Championship. Edwards season ended after a racing related incident with Joey Logano. Keeping good sportsmanship, Edwards wished Logano's team luck and took the blame for the racing related incident. Edwards finished 4th in points this season his best finish since he finished 2nd way back in 2011. Edwards is still seeking his first career championship in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series but surely had an effort in 2016 that showed Edwards was here and that he meant business.
Other Drivers Receiving Votes: Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch
NASCAR Xfinity Series - Elliott Sadler
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This was probably the toughest one for us to decide here at The Motorsports News Source because all four of the drivers in the Final Four had great seasons but when it came down to it Sadler had the best with just the Championship victory being absent. Sadler was able to keep his spirits up at one of the scariest moments of his career when OneMain Finnancial announced they wouldn't return. Sadler kept good spirits and was able to pull off a few wins that eventually made OneMain want to remain with Sadler. In 2017, The Virginia Native will look to gain his first Championship in NASCAR. Things are looking up for this team in 2017 and I could see some great things happening to Elliott in the next few seasons.
Other Drivers Receiving Votes: Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, and Justin Allgaier
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - William Byron
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Other Drivers Receiving Votes: Christopher Bell, Timothy Peters, Johnny Sauter, and Matt Crafton
Rookie Of The Year
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Chris Buescher
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| Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images |
This will be a very unpopular win amongst the fans because of the fact that overall Chase Elliott did do better than Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher but we looked at the section of stress that the rookie was placed in from Pocono to Richmond having to shoot to make the Top-30 and remain in the Top-30 to make the Chase and the driver from Texas succeeded which for the underfunded Front Row Motorsports was a success story that many of the fans didn't notice. Chris Buescher didn't make it far in the chase but he did make it further than Ryan Blaney who failed to make the Chase. Next season will possibly be a tougher pick because we have a ton of new rookies who will be in very competitive cars but for this season Chris Buescher was the sole driver to gain a victory which is why he is the 2016 Motorsports News Source Rookie of the Year!
Other Drivers Receiving Votes - Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Brian Scott, Jeffrey Earnhardt
NASCAR Xfinity Series - Erik Jones
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Erik Jones proved at Bristol that he was going to be a real contender at winning the 2016 Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 at the Bristol Motor Speedway where he beat the two who have seemed to dominate Bristol the last few years. The two Kyles, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. Erik Jones continued to show success as the season continued but the chase wasn't good to Erik with the exception of the fact that he made it to the season finale at Homestead competing against Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier, and teammate Daniel Suarez. Jones was able to prove why he's a good fit for the #77 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry for Furniture Row Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017.
Other Drivers Receiving Votes: Brandon Jones, Brennan Poole, Ryan Preece, Ray Black Jr., B.J. McLeod, and Garrett Smithley
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - William Byron
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| Matt Sullivan/Getty Images |
Without a doubt William Byron goes back-to-back on awards in the Motorsports News Source Awards by winning both Driver of The Year and Rookie Of The Year. Byron excelled as a rookie this season and showed he was fit for a next level ride and with interests in the future William Byron will be driving for Rick Hendrick in 2017 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. William Byron tallied a record amount of victories by a rookie in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and in 2017 he will seek to gain back-to-back Rookie Of The Year's driving for JR Motorsports. William Byron won Rookie of The Year in both the actual series and The Motorsports News Source Awards. Kyle Busch Motorsports has surely shown how it produces talent and it will continue in 2017 with their wide range of drivers.
Other Drivers Receiving Votes: Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, Ben Rhodes, Rico Abreu, and Austin Wayne Self
Race of The Year
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - 58th Annual Daytona 500
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By far the race of the season was the first race of the season for multiple reasons but the close finish was the key that locked this race as Race of the Year. The first race of the charter era along with the first Daytona 500 held at the complete Daytona Rising. It was seriously one of the best overall races with racing all throughout the race. Many drivers were giving their all and pushing their cars to the limit including Regan Smith who was overheating coming to the Checkers which shows just what the Daytona 500 means to a driver. Denny Hamlin came out as the victor and with that victory became the sole driver at the time to lock into The Chase for the Sprint Cup. Truex Jr. was on the other end of the photo finish.
Other Races Receiving Votes: Good Sam 500, Geico 500, Coke Zero 400, Bojangles Southern 500, Federated Auto Parts 400, and Ford 400
NASCAR Xfinity Series - Road America 180 Fired Up by Johnsonville
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| Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images |
The feel good race of the season had to be Michael McDowell finally gaining his first NASCAR Victory at Road America driving for Richard Childress Racing. After countless attempts and 5 finishes inside the Top-5, McDowell was finally able to prevail and win at Road America. McDowell battled Justin Marks, Alex Tagliani, Brennan Gaughan, and Erik Jones to gain his first career victory in the top ranks of NASCAR. The race had a threat of rain and with rain tires on standby which made things just a little more edgy. But in the end McDowell was able to overcome adversity and leave Road America with the Trophy and the Track Record in Qualifying that he landed in the first round of qualifying. McDowell is expected to return to Richard Childress Racing in the Xfinity Series in a few races in 2017 along with continuing the affiliation with Richard Childress Racing with Leavine Family Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Other Races Receiving Votes: Power Shares QQQ 300, Heads Up Georgia 250, Sparks Energy 300, Hisense 4K TV 300, American Ethanol 250, US Cellular 250, Food City 300, VFW Sports Clip 200, and Ford 300
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola
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| Jerry Markland/Getty Images |
Throughout his ARCA Career one win had eluded him. He had won at Daytona and even led the field to green in the NextEra Energy 250 earlier in the season but on a cool crisp windy Saturday Afternoon in Talladega Alabama, Grant Enfinger was finally able to gain a victory at his home track. Enfinger dominated behind the wheel of the #24 Plugfones Chevrolet Silverado. The whole race though was filled with drama especially with it being the first elimination race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase. The big one also took out many contenders including Brandon Brown and ultimately eliminated Daniel Hemric from The Chase. The drama was the key to making this the Race of the year for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Other Races Receiving Votes: NextEra Energy 250, Great Clips 200 , Toyota Tundra 200, Speediatrics 200 , Driven For Linemen 200, Aspen Dental Dirt Derby, UNOH 200, Chevrolet Silverado 250, and Ford 200
Shocking Moment of The Year
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sidelined by Concussion
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This moment shocked many in the sport but in the long run many of us learned more about Concussions and as time goes on we are helping other sports decrease the numbers of concussions including in the sport of Football. Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a great start to the year by winning his second straight Can-Am Duel at Daytona but after that it seemed like the season just took a downhill slide with the end coming after Kentucky when Jr. announced he would sit out of the next few races which would then ultimately turn into sitting out the remainder of the season. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will return to competition in 2017 and I feel he will be better than ever. Earnhardt will be married by the time the season starts which will be something new for fans to see. Sorry Ladies, Jr. is off the market now.
Other Moments Receiving Votes: The Closest Finish in Daytona 500 History, Jimmie Johnson Ties Dale Earnhardt Sr. for Wins, Photo Finish at Phoenix, The Geico 500 as a Whole, and Jimmie Johnson ties Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with 7th Championship Win
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