DWTS Crowns 2011 Winner

(Newser) – JR Martinez took home the mirrorball trophy last night on the Dancing With the Stars finale—and if you aren’t exactly sure who he is, you’re not the only one. The AP reports that Martinez, who was severely burned in Iraq while serving in the US Army, was the least-known member of the cast when this season began. The audience ultimately was won over by his story—he became an actor and motivational speaker after his injury—and his positive attitude.

It’s also worth noting that you owe Martinez a debt of gratitude for keeping the trophy out of the hands of a Kardashian, Kim’s brother Rob, who came in second. Ricki Lake was the third finalist. Martinez is riding his wave of popularity—he was recently named one of People’s sexiest men, and will serve as grand marshal of the Tournament of Roses parade. As for that trophy, “Right now I'm going to put mine in bed,” he says. “And then after that, once we've kind of grown apart, I'm going to glue it to the hood of my car and drive around Los Angeles and honk my horn and it will be my own parade.”