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.

Late NASCAR driver remembered at MB Speedway

NASCAR's stars aren't only in Darlington for the races this weekend. Kyle Petty, Michael Waltrip, and Denny Hamlin are three drivers who stopped on the Grand Strand for an event at Myrtle Beach Speedway Thursday night.

TV show features Florida couple who cloned their dog

Walk up to Lancelot Encore, and he gently crosses his paws. It's one way the golden Labrador retriever mirrors his predecessor, the late Sir Lancelot.

Green Smoke Sponsors TJ Bell in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca Cola 600

Leading electronic cigarette company aggressively launching into large retail chains. Sponsors NASCAR driver for the 2nd year(PRWEB) May 16, 2012 Green Smoke, the nation’s leading provider of electronic cigarettes, is proud to announce its sponsorship of TJ Bell in the 53rd running of the Coca Cola 600 on Sunday, May 27. Bell, who made his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut last year, will pilot the #32 ...

NASCAR-CUP: Johnson seeks to win again at Talladega

JIMMIE JOHNSON You’ve Got To Hold On Jimmie Johnson, Hendricks Motorsports Chevrolet Photo by: Action Sports Photography HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (May 1, 2012) – The band Alabama Shakes, founded in Athens, Ala., may have some good advice for Jimmie Johnson this weekend. If he wants to make it to victory lane after Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s 499 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, he’ll ...

Pintos turn back the clock at speedway

There was a time when Ford Pintos dominated Martinsville Speedway’s half-mile, but until Thursday it had been quite a few years since one challenged the tight turns.