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.

NASCAR-CUP: Ford drivers discuss All-Star race with Charlotte media

Six Ford Racing drivers are currently guaranteed a spot in the Sprint All-Star Race Saturday night. Defending winner Carl Edwards, along with Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, David Ragan, Trevor Bayne and Marcos Ambrose are all in the field after posting wins in either 2011 or 2012. Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing Ford Photo by: Action Sports Photography Eight different Ford Racing drivers have won ...

Race Car Driver Scott Tucker Claims 3rd Consecutive Laguna Seca Victory

Scott Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team last week claimed their 3rd consecutive class victory in the ALMS race at Laguna Seca according level5 motorsports.com. The motorsports website reported that Tucker along with co-drivers Luis Diaz and Franck Montagny finished the six hour endurance race in second place overall which meant they were victorious in the P2 class.Monterey, CA (PRWEB) May ...

IndyCar drivers make pitch to keep power boost

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - IndyCar drivers rarely speak in unison when it comes to big issues. They all want to go faster. After series officials gave the cars an extra boost in horsepower for practice Friday, some drivers made a concerted pitch, pleading to keep the power boost for the May 27 race. "Honestly, ...

Caraviello: In All-Star Race, a million reasons to do anything

CONCORD, N.C. -- Carl Edwards was so overjoyed after winning the Sprint All-Star Race last season that he wrecked his car celebrating. As he spun gleeful doughnuts through the infield grass, the front end of his car stuck and threw up a spray of sod and dirt. The vehicle spun backward, trailing pieces of earth and sheet metal behind it, and throwing off scrapes when it slid back onto the asphalt ...

Roger Penske: Racetrack capitalist

The death of Carroll Shelby last week got me thinking about what race car drivers do after they pull into the pit lane for the last time. Some, like Shelby, have made even bigger names for themselves off-track than on.