Gordon, Johnson nominated for SPEED's 'Performer of the Year'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Nov. 30, 2007) - The 15-member SPEED voting panel has named 12 finalists for the 2007 SPEED Performer of the Year honor, with the winner to be announced as part of the SPEED Performance Awards one-hour television special hosted by racers Tommy Kendall and Danica Patrick in February. Hendrick Motorsports teammates and fellow NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champions Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are on the ballot that represents nine different racing series. Johnson was the inaugural winner of the SPEED Performer of the Year last season. The top six vote-getters will be featured on the special. Gordon and Johnson are joined by back-to-back World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz, AMA Supercross champ James Stewart, IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti, four-time Champ Car World Series titlist Sebastien Bourdais, MotoGP champ Casey Stoner, Formula One rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series champions Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, USAC National Midget Series champion Jerry Coons Jr., USAC sprint car driver Jon Stanbrough and F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen. The second annual SPEED Performer of the Year will be selected by a panel including "Wind Tunnel" host Dave Despain, veteran broadcasters Bob Varsha and Ralph Sheheen, SPEEDtv.com writers Robin Miller and Tom Jensen and versatile racers Tommy Kendall and Dorsey Schroeder. The winner will receive the Mario Andretti Trophy, created by bronze artist Elie Hazak. SPEED is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 78 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority.