Budweiser Shootout

victory in the Budweiser Shootout through Denny Hamlin's win in the season finale at Homestead, the 2009 season belonged to Jimmie Johnson. Now a four-time Cup Series champion, Johnson wrapped up his fourth consecutive title with another 10-race Chase run into the record books.

However, there were many other storylines that made headlines this year -- the economy and its effect on a sponsor-driven sport, Jeremy Mayfield's suspension following a failed drug test and the subsequent legal filings, Danica Patrick's seemingly never ending "talks" with team owners, not to mention the Hall of Fame as well as the on-track competition.

NAS-CAR.COM's staff writers weigh in with their top stories of the year: Sponsorship was priceless in '09. Sponsorship was priceless in '09.

MARK AUMANN The economic slowdown affected every facet of the sport in 2009, and may continue to do so in the near future.

Two of the sport's manufacturers -- Chevrolet and Chrysler -- faced bankruptcy and throttled back their monetary and engineering assistance. Major corporations cut back or eliminated their sponsorships altogether. Several teams merged or shuttered their operations, and in the process, laid off hundreds of employees. Others went the "start and park" route in an effort to limit expenses and maximize revenues.

The drop in attendance, close to 10 percent from 2008 estimates, was partially blamed on the recession, as fans had more difficult choices to make with their increasingly limited disposable income. Many members of the media found themselves facing the same situation as declining advertising revenue required downsizing. And even though the forecast is rosier for the foreseeable future, there's no guarantee NASCAR will return to its halcyon days any time soon.

Happy Hour: Is caution-free racing good racing?

W elcome to the late st Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: You write us w ith your best rant/ joke/one-liner at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com or on Twitter at @jaybusbee , we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face. This past weekend, I covered UFC 145. And let me tell you, friends, NASCAR and its drivers are flat-out spoiled. We gripe in message ...

Mint juleps and Moon Pies: 50 hours of horsepower at the Kentucky Derby and Talladega

Separated by 24 hours and a few hundred miles, the Kentucky Derby and Aaron's 499 at Talladega provide a broad look at Americana.

Mint juleps and Moon Pies: 48 hours of horsepower at the Kentucky Derby and Talladega

Separated by 24 hours and a few hundred miles, the Kentucky Derby and Aaron's 499 at Talladega provide a broad look at Americana.