More efficient matrix count method
I'd say that due to the level of nested that you have going on, this is probably as compact of code as you can get out of the box. From an efficiency standpoint, you are only looping through the loop once, so I can't imagine there being anything more efficient. 

If you're wanting to minimize the amount of logic in your template, then you can create a plugin and utilize template variables that would accept the matrix content as a parameter. Logic would be handled with PHP and could return an associative array of properties (specialWin, specialNominations, normalWin, normalNominations). So you'd end up with something like this:

{% set matrixData = craft.myPlugin.myPluginVariableMethod( entry.matrixloop ) %}
{# Debug Information #}
{#
&lt;p&gt; Special win: {{ matrixData.specialWin }} &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; Special Nominations: {{ matrixData.specialNominations }} &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt; Normal Win: {{ matrixData.normalWin }} &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; Normal Nomination: {{ matrixData.normalNominations }} &lt;/p&gt;

{{ entry.matrixloop | length }}


Personally, I'd go with the plugin route just to keep heavy logic out of the templates. It's nice that you can do that type of logic via twig if you want, but it also muddles things up a bit.