Dungey Takes Home SPEED Award
FANS NAME 2010 SUPERCROSS CHAMP DUNGEY
RACER MAGAZINE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
EARNHARDT JR, GORDON, POWER ALSO TAKE HOME HARDWARE
Nine different winners took home winged hardware last night as part of the 5th Annual SPEED Performance Awards, with 2010 Supercross champion Ryan Dungey being named RACER Magazine Rookie of the Year.
The awards, established in 2006, honor winners in nine categories voted on and selected by fans. NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski took home his second consecutive win in the “Best Rivalry” category, this year with Carl Edwards. Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving his father’s famous No. 3 to Victory Lane in Wrangler blue and yellow at Daytona, was the sentimental choice for “Best Finish,” and IndyCar driver Will Power earned “Best Comeback,” after recovering from a broken back to race and win again in 2010.
Dungey, who finished seventh in SPEED Performer of the Year balloting after a record-setting rookie season, joins Colin Braun (2006), Lewis Hamilton (’07), Joey Logano (’08) and Ben Spies (’09) as winners of the top-rookie trophy:
A complete list of last night’s honorees (to see their videos, please visit www.speedperformanceawards.com):
Ø Best Move – Johnny Sauter
Ø Best Rivalry – Carl Edwards & Brad Keselowski
Ø Biggest Upset – Action Express Racing
Ø Best Comeback – Will Power
Ø Best Finish – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Ø Biggest Hit – Mike Conway
Ø Oops - Marcos Ambrose
Ø Temper, Temper - Jeff Gordon
Ø RACER Rookie of the Year – Ryan Dungey
The one-hour special also honored the top six vote-getters for 2010 SPEED Performer of the Year, with Formula One champ Sebastian Vettel receiving the Mario Andretti Trophy in January as part of a special event at Red Bull Racing in January. Finishing behind Vettel for the honor were three-time Mario Andretti Trophy winner Jimmie Johnson, MotoGP titlist Jorge Lorenzo, NASCAR’s Kyle Busch, IndyCar champ and Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti and ageless NHRA Funny Car icon John Force.