SPEED™ opens fan voting for the third annual SPEED Performance Awards on Nov. 17 with an eye towards highlighting the year's defining moments on and off the race track.

The first three categories -- Biggest Hit, Oops Award and Best Move -- open for video voting at SPEEDtv.com (Keyword: Performance) on Monday with nominees from nine different sanctioning bodies, including NASCAR, Formula One, NHRA, the American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am, MotoGP, AMA Motocross and CORR, Indy Lights. Three more categories will open for voting on Nov. 24, with the final three opening for voting on Dec. 1. Voting for all categories will end at midnight on Dec. 14.

"The SPEED Performance Awards were designed to celebrate the moments on or around the race track that had you sitting on the edge of your seat, throwing something at the TV or simply scratching your head in amazement," said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. "It's a cool way, at the end of a long season, for fans to share their passion for the sport with us and each other."

Race fans across all disciplines will get to voice their opinions through SPEEDtv.com on the following awards:

The OOPS Award (biggest mistake)
Biggest Hit
Temper, Temper
Biggest Upset
Best Rivalry
Best Finish
Best Move
Best Comeback
RACER Magazine Rookie of the Year

In addition to the fan-selected SPEED Performance Awards, SPEED will once again present the Mario Andretti Trophy, created by bronze artist Elie Hazak, to the SPEED Performer of the Year. Nominations are made and voted on by a panel of SPEED personalities, producers, former trophy winners and Andretti. All of the awards will be part of a one-hour SPEED Performance Awards special to air in February.

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.