CONCORD, N.C. -- Fresh off winning his record-tying seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, Jimmie Johnson is in the running for another prestigious honor.
The driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS is among the 12 leading contenders for Sports Illustrated's 2016 Sportsperson of the Year.
Johnson is up against the likes of Olympians Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Usain Bolt and Katie Ledecky, fellow champions LeBron James and the Chicago Cubs, and even broadcaster Vin Scully.
And Sports Illustrated is asking fans to make their voice heard through a Sportsperson of the Year poll.
While the reader vote will not determine the winner, Sports Illustrated executive editor Stephen Cannella said the publication wants to hear what the fans have to say on the matter.
"We have a ton of incredibly strong candidates, any of whom could win Sportsperson of the Year," he said. "It's a tough choice to pick just one, but yes, we do want to hear what fans have to say. We want to hear, what would you guys do if you were sitting in our shoes?"
The honoree, Cannella said, will be announced in early December.