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.

Field Set for Fifth Annual Pennzoil Victory Burnout Challenge

CONCORD, N.C., May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Defending event champion Kasey Kahne and 2010 "burnout" winner Joey Logano will be joined by three of NASCAR's biggest names in the fifth annual Pennzoil ...

NASCAR driver Kurt Busch fined $50,000, placed on probation

CONCORD, N.C. - NASCAR fined Kurt Busch $50,000 and put him on probation through July 25 for reckless driving on pit road and an altercation with a competitor after the Southern 500.

Chevy unveils its new NASCAR race car

Chevrolet showcases its new NASCAR Cup entry for 2013.

Commodore to NASCAR confirmed

The next model Holden Commodore VF will debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup next season, carrying the Chevrolet badge.

NASCAR-CUP: Tony Stewart always in for the All-Star Race

Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet Photo by: Action Sports Photography KANNAPOLIS, N.C., (May 17, 2012) – The name of the race has changed a handful of times, and its format seems to get adjusted each and every year, but the ultimate goal remains the same. Win. That is the only mainstay of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the non-points event for recent winners in the NASCAR Sprint Cup ...