Once again, you, the readers of RACER, have recognized motorsports excellence by casting your votes in the 17th annual RACER of the Year presented by Mobil 1.
Tony Stewart was your choice for 2011's overall RACER of the Year and Oval Racer of the Year (CLICK HERE for all the details), following an amazing late-season run that brought him a third NASCAR Sprint Cup title.
Three more awards are also voted for by you guys, and today we can reveal that you've chosen two-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel as your Road Racer of the Year, Top Fuel convert and first-time champ Del Worsham as the Drag Racer of the Year, and IZOD IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year James Hinchcliffe as RACER Rookie of the Year.
Thanks once again for voting in record numbers for the 17th annual RACER of the Year presented by Mobil 1. We appreciate your support!
ROAD RACER OF THE YEAR, SEBASTIAN VETTEL (FORMULA 1)
Sebastian Vettel had a tough act to follow in 2011 – himself. Unfazed, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion took things to the next level, racking up 11 race wins and a record-breaking 15 poles for a still dominant Red Bull Racing team.
Was Vettel a more complete racer in '11? That's difficult to say; he was certainly a more complete driver, as those poles testify, along with his trademark, blisteringly fast opening laps. But, such was his affinity with the new-for-2011 Pirelli tires and his metronomic ability to build a multi-second lead on full tanks that, psychological impact aside, it left his chasers unable to reel him in using DRS, the low-drag rear wing system introduced by the FIA to aid overtaking. End result: the kid didn't have to do a whole lot of racing most weekends. Yet, when he had to, there wasn't a whole lot missing from his repertoire of moves – or his bravery quota, when that was required.
Some may argue that the German's era-defining dominance is bad for F1. But that's not his problem. It's up to the others to give him a run for his money. As it is, Sebastian Vettel is in a class of his own, and your votes confirmed that.
ROAD RACER OF THE YEAR – THE VOTING
Sebastian Vettel 24%
Will Power 20%
Jenson Button 8%
The rest… 48%
SEB SAYS…
“What a great surprise! It's one thing to get an award for your achievements, but it's very special when it's the result of public voting. This one is particularly satisfying knowing that RACER and RACER.com are American, because the U.S. holds a special place in my heart: the last Formula 1 race there, at Indianapolis in 2007, was my grand prix debut, and I managed to score a point.”
DRAG RACER OF THE YEAR, DEL WORSHAM (NHRA TOP FUEL)
After 20 years of racing in Funny Cars, but never quite reaching the pinnacle, Del Worsham switched nitro classes when technical guru Alan Johnson and Al-Anabi Racing chose to concentrate solely on Top Fuel for 2011. Worsham had dabbled in Top Fuel in the early '90s, so wasn't a complete novice at cajoling a “digger” down the strip, but with a talent-heavy field ranged against him (not least his teammate and reigning champ Larry Dixon), surely this wouldn't be the easiest of transitions?
But from the start, it was a classic case of “under promise/over deliver” for the unassuming 41-year-old. Second time out, in Gainesville, Fla., he earned a final round win over Top Fuel giant Tony Schumacher. Things only got better after that, with five more “regular season” wins and two in the Countdown, including an ice-in-the-veins, title-clinching day at the Pomona Finals.
Soon after taking that first pro title of his career, Worsham hung up his helmet. In 2012, mission finally accomplished and duly recognized by RACER's readers, he'll crew chief for FC newbie Alexis DeJoria.
DRAG RACER OF THE YEAR – THE VOTING
Del Worsham 27%
Mike Neff 25%
John Force 18%
The rest… 30%
DEL SAYS…
“John Force didn't win?! To get more votes than him is an absolute honor. Thank you, everyone! I mean, I've never won anything like this before. RACER's Drag Racer of the Year is a great way to cap off my driving career. Thanks!”