Jimmie Johnson: Driver of the Year.(2004 NASCAR Award)(Brief Article)

It was a year like no other because of the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. It came down to the final race. First and third place were separated by 21 points heading into that race; it was anyone's championship to win. Although Kurt Busch held on to first place, Jimmie Johnson--who finished second to Greg Biffie in the race and shaved 10 points off Busch's lead, falling eight short--was chosen in a vote by his fellow competitors as the fourth annual SPORTING NEWS Driver of the Year.

"That's cool," says Johnson, who finished second in points for the second year in a row. "That means a lot, especially since it's decided on by everybody in the garage area. You work week in and week out, and you don't know if the accomplishments you achieve are being noticed, whether your effort is respected or what others' opinions are of you. That really ...