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Force, Rossi, Logano Win SPEED™ Performance Awards
The Third Annual SPEED™ Performance Awards were supported by nearly 120,000 votes on SPEEDtv.com...
Erik Arneson  |  Posted February 06, 2009   Charlotte, NC
The Mario Andretti Trophy, created by bronze artist Elie Hazak. (Image: SPEED)

FORCE, ROSSI AND LOGANO AMONG WINNERS OF SPEED™ PERFORMANCE AWARDS™

13-YEAR-OLD BENNY SOLIS WINS ‘BEST FINISH’ FOR SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER AMA U.S. ROOKIES CUP BATTLE ON TWO WHEELS

John Force turns 60 in May, but after a devastating crash at Texas in 2007 nearly ended the 14-time NHRA Funny Car champ’s career, he returned to the track in 2008 to collect a national event win at Topeka.

The effort, which included intense physical therapy after Force suffered broken bones in his hands and feet, tendon and ligament damage in his right knee, a dislocated left wrist and a compound fracture of his left ankle, was rewarded by race fans Thursday night as he was selected to win the SPEED Performance Award for “Biggest Comeback” on last night’s one-hour SPEED television special.

The Third Annual SPEED Performance Awards were supported by nearly 120,000 votes on SPEEDtv.com, with nine trophies being handed out to a wide variety of racers. The winners included:

- RACER Magazine Rookie of the Year: Joey Logano, NASCAR
- Best Finish: Benny Solis, AMA
- Biggest Hit: Michael McDowell, NASCAR
- Biggest Upset: Donny Lia, NASCAR
- Biggest Comeback: John Force, NHRA
- Best Move: Valentino Rossi, MotoGP
- Temper, Temper: Germain Racing, NASCAR
- Oops Award: Carl Edwards, NASCAR
- Best Rivalry: Kyle Busch vs. Everyone, NASCAR

To view all of the SPEED Performance Awards video nominees, please visit: SPEED™ Performance Awards

For the third consecutive year, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was named the SPEED Performer of the Year™ by a voting panel headlined by racing legend Mario Andretti and 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.

Andretti and SPEED President Hunter Nickell surprised Johnson with an early presentation of his third Mario Andretti Trophy at January’s NASCAR Media Tour in Charlotte.

The one-hour special will re-air:

- Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7:00 p.m. ET
- Thursday, Feb. 12 at 2:00 a.m. ET
- Friday, Feb. 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 2:00 p.m. ET

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.

SPEED will offer 100 Hours of High Definiton coverage from Daytona. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE FROM DAYTONA
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Erik Arneson

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