Stewart named NMPA Driver of the Year

Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart was named the National Motorsports Press Association's 2011 Richard Petty Driver of the Year Sunday. Stewart, who had a mediocre regular season, nevertheless made the Chase for the Sprint Cup field – and then performed with near-brilliance, winning five of the final 10 races of the season and edging Carl Edwards for the series championship. The title was the third for Stewart but his first racing for his own team, Stewart-Haas Racing. SPEED