Joey Logano has been nominated for the 2025 ESPY Best Driver Award, recognizing his outstanding performance during the past NASCAR season. The award, which honors the most impactful motorsports athlete annually, places Logano among esteemed competitors from major racing series, including Alex Palou from IndyCar and Formula 1 drivers Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.
This nomination gives Logano, the driver of the #22 Team Penske Ford and the reigning Cup Series champion, an opportunity to join a celebrated group of NASCAR drivers who have shaped stock car racing on a global level. The award ceremony will be held on July 16 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
NASCAR’s Dominance in the ESPY Best Driver Award History
Historically, NASCAR drivers have secured more ESPY Best Driver Awards than those from Formula 1 or the IndyCar Series. Leading the way are Hendrick Motorsports’ Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, each with four wins. Johnson stands out as the most decorated NASCAR champion with seven titles, a record matched only by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Former rival and three-time ESPY winner Tony Stewart highlights another notable NASCAR figure on this list. Stewart earned four championships overall—three as a driver and one as a team owner alongside Kevin Harvick in 2014—and is remembered for his unique moment testing a McLaren F1 alongside Lewis Hamilton at Watkins Glen in 2011.
Logano’s Perspective on NASCAR’s Evolution and Competitive Edge
Joey Logano recently praised NASCAR as the world’s most thrilling motorsport, emphasizing how the series’ recent changes have enhanced competition and excitement. He pointed to close finishes and playoff racing as key factors that have elevated the spectacle for drivers and fans alike.
“The racing is better today than it’s ever been. Period, hands-down. I don’t care. What you say after that.” —Joey Logano
He acknowledged that while the inaugural race in Mexico City saw a sizeable gap between the winner, Shane van Gisbergen, and the rest of the field, close racing has generally become the standard under NASCAR’s new format.
“Now, we’ve added things, whether it’s a car, whether it’s the stage racing, whether it’s the playoffs. I think we’ve added ways to make NASCAR racing the most exciting motorsport in the world, hands-down. I’d put that up against anything,” he concluded.
Current Season Standings and Playoff Aspirations
After his victory at Texas Motor Speedway in May, Logano is positioned to defend his Cup Series championship as he heads into the playoffs. Presently ranked 10th in points, he has accumulated one win, two top-five finishes, and four top-ten finishes in the current campaign.
Potential Legacy Impact if Logano Secures the ESPY Award
Winning the ESPY Best Driver Award would mark a significant milestone for Logano’s career, allowing him to stand alongside NASCAR legends who have previously earned this honor. It would further cement his reputation as one of the leading figures in stock car racing and bolster NASCAR’s prominence in the global motorsports community.
The announcement on July 16 will reveal whether Logano has convinced the voting panel that his on-track achievements and the intensity of NASCAR racing merit the highest individual recognition in motorsports for 2025.
