Gallon of gas helped define year in NASCAR

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gasoline rose to $3.04 this week. That same gallon, however, cost Denny Hamlin millions - and a Sprint Cup Series championship.

Hamlin's splash-and-go at the Phoenix International Raceway spoiled a dominating performance that would have given him a comfortable lead in the Chase for the Championship heading into the season-finale at Homestead, Fla.

One gallon of gasoline helped define the year in racing, because it exemplified how close the sport got to stopping Jimmie Johnson's run on championships. But in the end, Johnson, who managed to stretch his gas at Phoenix, found a way to stretch his championship streak to five.

The year still proved to be Hamlin's coming out party. Despite having reconstructive surgery on his knee, he won a series best eight races. He also appeared to be composed through most of the Chase - until he ran out of gas at Phoenix in the final 10 laps.

The year belonged to Johnson. He found ways to win races that left others shaking their heads. Whether it was with pit road strategy, fuel mileage or a fast car, Johnson continued to win consecutive championships like no other driver in NASCAR history.

Year of feuds

The year will be remembered for on-track feuds. NASCAR vice president Robin Pemberton said, "Boys have at it" during the preseason, and they responded. Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards battled all season. So did Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton and Gordon and Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano. And Kyle Busch fought with everyone.

His run-ins notwithstanding, Kyle Busch had an incredible year. He maintained a part-time schedule in the Camping World Truck and Nationwide series. He won three Sprint Cup races, a record 13 times in Nationwide and eight in the trucks. Although he's just 25, he's already won a combined 86 races in NASCAR's three national touring series.

It was a year car owner Chip Ganassi won't ever forget. Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 for him, as well as the fall race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Juan Pablo Montoya also won at Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Ganassi also won the Indianapolis 500 with Dario Franchitti. Five months later Franchitti gave Ganassi the IndyCar Series championship.

Roger Penske enjoyed a memorable year. Keselowski gave the racing legend his first NASCAR championship when he won the Nationwide title.

Year of struggle

The year proved time continues to stand still in the truck series. Todd Bodine won the championship, pushing the streak of 40-and-older winners to seven years in a row.

The sluggish economy also defined the year. Attendance was down across the board; race teams continued to lay off workers; Richard Petty Motorsports ran out of money and was forced to reduce from four to two teams with new owners; and Penske is looking at cutting Sam Hornish's team after her failed to find new sponsorship.

It took most of the year, but Ford finally got its act together. The manufacturer wasn't competitive for the first five months, but once Roush Fenway Racing revamped its engineering department and got its new FR9 engine up to speed, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards combined to win four of the final 16 races.

It was a year Clint Bowyer would like to remember - and forget. He won two races, but one of them was clouded in controversy. After winning a fuel mileage gamble at New Hampshire, NASCAR said his car had some illegal modifications to the frame. He was fined $150,000 and docked 150 points in the Chase. His team argued the frame was bent by a wrecker after the race, but a commission upheld the sanctions. Bowyer would up 10th in the final standings. Without the penalty, he would have been fifth.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a nondescript year. He was winless - again - at Hendrick Motorsports. With only one victory in 108 starts at Hendrick, Earnhardt will be with his third different crew chief in the last 18 months next season.

Year of loss

Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to some friends this year.

Longtime NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter lost a year-long battle with cancer. So did Bristol Motor Speedway president Jeff Byrd. Former R.J. Reynolds executive Jerry Long, Gatorade racing manager Ed Shull, former Sprint Cup competition director Les Richter, drivers Tommie Irvin, Katron Sosebee, Mike Porter and Larry Frank passed way, as did car owners Richard Jackson, Hubert Hensley and Raymond Parks. Legendary crew chief Jake Elder and ESPN executive Chet Simmons also made their final laps.

In all, it was a year we won't soon forget.




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Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to some friends this year.