We'll be announcing the results of RACER of the Year XV, presented by Mobil 1, in the March issue of RACER magazine. But before that, here's a sneak preview of the main contenders for the Oval Racer of the Year, the third of four awards voted for by the readers of RACER magazine and RACER.com.

As NASCAR has reached ever-increasing heights of popularity in recent years, so have its outstanding racers come to dominate the balloting in this category. In fact, only once in the past six years have RACER readers picked a driver from outside NASCAR's Sprint Cup (Sam Hornish Jr., after his Indy 500/IndyCar championship season of 2006) as the year's outstanding oval racer. They haven't always gone for the champion, as selected by NASCAR's still controversial Chase playoff system. But, Jimmie Johnson has gotten the nod the past two years – even while losing the overall RACER of the Year vote to Kyle Busch in 2008 – so it's no surprise that he was one of the top vote-getters again this time. 

The top challengers to NASCAR's four-peat champion? It was no surprise to see IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti among them after his spectacular comeback season upon his return to IndyCar racing. In fact, Dario was the only driver to be a top-three finalist in all three categories for which he was eligible – RACER of the Year, Road Racer, and Oval Racer. Joining the two champs was 2009's fan-favorite runner-up Mark Martin who, at the age of 50, chased Hendrick Motorsports teammate Johnson hard for the Sprint Cup title while winning five times.

Will RACER readers split their votes between Cup's champ and sentimental favorite, as they did last year? Or will Franchitti – who edged out Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves among the final three vote-getters in this category after a season in which two of his five wins, including his title-clinching victory, came on oval tracks – eclipse the pair of them? To find out, don't miss RACER of the Year XV, presented by Mobil 1, in the March issue of RACER magazine (begins mailing Feb. 5).

This year, we are proud and excited to welcome Mobil 1 as the presenting sponsor of RACER of the Year XV. Like all of the candidates for RACER of the Year XV, the family of Mobil 1 fully synthetic lubricants is competition proven in the most challenging race series in the world, including Formula 1, NASCAR and the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Mobil 1 competes not just to win races, but to test its lubricants in the most demanding environments in order to develop cutting-edge products that benefit customers in their everyday road cars. Mobil 1 is designed to exceed industry performance specifications and continues to set new standards in lubrication technology.

To find out more on Mobil 1 in racing, and how its lubricants can benefit your road car, go to mobil1.com.

To discover who got your votes in RACER of the Year XV, presented by Mobil 1, see the March issue of RACER magazine (begins mailing Feb. 5).

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