Reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden has been nominated for the 2018 ESPY Awards in the Best Driver category.

Time is running out to vote for Josef Newgarden, the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series champion carrying the INDYCAR banner at this year’s ESPYS. The annual awards show honoring the best athletes and moments from the past sporting year airs at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday on ABC.

Newgarden is nominated in the Best Driver category along with Martin Truex Jr. (NASCAR), Lewis Hamilton (Formula One) and Brittany Force (NHRA). They will join a cast of who’s who from the sports world in the live broadcast hosted by Danica Patrick, who closed her groundbreaking racing career at the Indianapolis 500 on May 27. Watch the ESPYS for another surprise appearance by someone familiar to IMDYCAR fans.

Fans may vote daily for Newgarden until the show airs by visiting ESPN's Best Athlete Voting page or by clicking the banner below to be directed to the voting page.

“This nomination wouldn’t be possible without the hard work from Team Penske,” Newgarden added. “Their efforts put us in a place to win the Verizon IndyCar Series championship last year and this nomination is as much about them as anything. I can’t wait to get to LA and attend the event.”

Newgarden follows in a long line of Indy car drivers nominated for Best Driver honors, including Nigel Mansell, Al Unser Jr., Jimmy Vasser, Juan Pablo Montoya, Buddy Lazier, Gil de Ferran, Sam Hornish Jr., Dan Wheldon, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, Will Power, Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi and Simon Pagenaud. Mansell, Unser Jr., Vasser and Hunter-Reay are all past winners.

Help add Newgarden to that winners' list by voting for him now. #DefendThe1.