DARLINGTON, S.C. — Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch, who rallied from injuries sustained in a season-opening crash to capture the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, has been named the 2015 recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award.
Busch, 30, suffered a broken right leg and left foot in a crash during the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway last February. After missing the season’s first 11 points races, the driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota returned with a vengeance. He won four of five races, including three straight, during the summer to qualify for NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup. In the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Busch beat 2014 series champion Kevin Harvick to win the race and earn his first Sprint Cup championship.
In addition to Homestead, Busch also scored wins at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, Kentucky Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was his first Brickyard 400 title and the fourth for Joe Gibbs Racing.
He finished the season with 12 top-five and 16 top-10 results.
“I just want to thank the National Motorsports Press Association for voting me as the Richard Petty Driver of the Year,” said Busch. “Last year was the most challenging, yet rewarding year of my career. While this honor has my name on it, I don’t think it would have possible without the hard work and dedication from everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota and TRD.
“On the personal side, I can’t thank the doctors and everyone at OrthoCarolina enough for helping me get back into racing shape, but also my wife Samantha and my entire family for all they did to get me back on my feet. Just looking at the list of past winners, it’s a tremendous honor to have my name mentioned along with many other great champions of our sport.”
In addition to his Sprint Cup success, Busch, a team owner in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series, also scored six wins in the XFINITY Series and two in the Truck Series.
Others receiving votes were Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports), Joey Logano (Team Penske), Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing) and Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing).
Busch was presented the award Jan. 17 during the NMPA’s annual convention in Concord, N.C.
The Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award has been presented each year since 1969 and is determined by a vote of the NMPA membership. It is named in honor of Petty, a seven-time champion and the all-time win leader in NASCAR with 200 career premier series victories.
Richard Petty Driver of the Year Recipients
2015, Kyle Busch; 2014, Kevin Harvick; 2013, Jimmie Johnson; 2012, Brad Keselowski; 2011, Tony Stewart; 2010, Jimmie Johnson; 2009, Jimmie Johnson; 2008, Carl Edwards; 2007, Jimmie Johnson; 2006, Jimmie Johnson; 2005, Tony Stewart; 2004, Jimmie Johnson; 2003, Ryan Newman; 2002, Tony Stewart;
2001, Kevin Harvick; 2000, Bobby Labonte; 1999, Dale Jarrett; 1998, Jeff Gordon; 1997, Dale Jarrett; 1996, Terry Labonte; 1995, Jeff Gordon; 1994, Dale Earnhardt; 1993, Rusty Wallace; 1992, Davey Allison; 1991, Harry Gant; 1990, Dale Earnhardt; 1989, Mark Martin; 1988, Rusty Wallace;
1987, Dale Earnhardt; 1986, Tim Richmond and Dale Earnhardt; 1985, Bill Elliott; 1984, Terry Labonte; 1983, Bobby Allison; 1982, Darrell Waltrip; 1981, Darrell Waltrip; 1980, Dale Earnhardt; 1979, Cale Yarborough; 1978, Cale Yarborough;
1977, Cale Yarborough; 1976, Darrell Waltrip; 1975, Richard Petty; 1974, Richard Petty; 1973, David Pearson; 1972, Bobby Allison; 1971, Bobby Allison; 1970, Bobby Isaac; 1969, LeeRoy Yarbrough.