Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is one of five superstar athletes to be nominated for the Best Male Athlete Award at the 2010 ESPYS, set for July 14 in Los Angeles.

The reigning Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year will vie for the honor with Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, two-time NBA MVP LeBron James and three-time MLB National League MVP Albert Pujols.

Johnson is also one of the Best Driver nominees along with 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Kyle Busch, four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., 2009 IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti and six-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher.
Fans will determine the winners in 37 categories (except the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and other special awards) by voting online and by phone. For more information, go to espn.com/espys

ESPY nominees

BEST MALE ATHLETE
Drew Brees, NFL
Won Super Bowl MVP honors after finishing with an 82.1 completion percentage, the second best in Super Bowl history.
Completed 32 passes, which tied the record for the most in Super Bowl history.
Set an NFL record by completing 70.6 percent of his passes during the regular season.
Finished the postseason with eight touchdowns and no interceptions.

Kobe Bryant, NBA
Earned his fifth championship ring after leading the Lakers over the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Averaged 28.6 PPG in the NBA Finals.
Averaged 27 PPG (4th in NBA) during 2009-10 regular season.
Led Lakers to best record in Western Conference during 2009-10 regular season, 57-25.

LeBron James, NBA
Earned his second straight MVP award.
Averaged 29.7 PPG (2nd in NBA), 8.6 APG (6th in NBA) and 7.3 RPG during the 2009-10 regular season.
Led Cavaliers to NBA-high 61 regular-season wins.
Was the only NBA player with at least 650 assists, 550 rebounds, 125 steals and 75 blocked shots.

Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR
Earned his fourth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points title.
Joined Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and teammate Jeff Gordon as the only drivers with at least four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships.
Became the fastest driver to reach four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles, doing so in 291 starts, beating Gordon’s previous record (292).

Albert Pujols, MLB
Named NL MVP, becoming the 10th player to win three or more MVP Awards.
Led the NL in home runs (47) and runs (134).
Finished third in batting (.327).
First unanimous NL MVP since Barry Bonds in 2002.

BEST DRIVER
Kyle Busch
Totaled 20 wins over three NASCAR national series during 2009 season.
Became youngest racer to start his 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start.
Won 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Dario Franchitti
Won the 2010 Indy 500.
Edged out Scott Dixon to win the 2009 IndyCar point title.
Had five wins and 13 top five finishes in 2009.

Ron Hornaday Jr.
Won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title, his fourth career driving championship.
Became only the second driver in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history to clinch the championship before the final race.

Jimmie Johnson
Earned his fourth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points title.
Joined Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and teammate Jeff Gordon as the only drivers with at least four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championships.
Became the fastest to reach four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles, doing so in 291 starts. The previous record of 292 was held by Jeff Gordon.

Tony Schumacher
Won his sixth straight Top Fuel championship.
Became the first driver in NHRA history to win six consecutive Top Fuel championships.
Out of 24 total races, Schumacher finished in the top five each time.