NASCAR.com recently recapped the best performances from the 2009 Truck Series season, starting with their selections for the top drivers in 2009. The NASCAR.com editors based their picks on discussions with the national series’ directors, competition department, and NASCAR PR managers.
Top Drivers (in alphabetical order)
Stats: 15 starts, 7 wins, 11 top-fives, 13 top-tens, 4.2 average finish
Claim to fame in 2009: As a part-timer in the Truck series, there is no one better. Busch carries a fantastic wins-to-starts ratio, and stayed in contention for the owners’ title until the very end. Busch will field two Toyota trucks under his own banner next season.
Stats: 25 starts, 0 wins, 11 top-fives, 21 top-tens, 6.6 average finish
Claim to fame in 2009: Don’t let the zero wins fool you. Crafton held the second highest points total in the 2009 Truck Series season. This could be taken in either a positive or negative manner, but Crafton was always a threat to score second place. Consistent racers may not make headlines, but they bring the bacon home.
Stats: 25 starts, 6 wins, 15 top-fives, 20 top-tens, 6.4 average finish
Claim to fame in 2009: The 2009 season champion. Hornaday took first place in the standings before mid-season and never looked back. He also reeled off five consecutive wins in the summer, becoming only the third driver to accomplish the feat in NASCAR’s national series’ history. The other two who did it? All-time greats Richard Petty and Bobby Allison in 1971.
Stats: 25 starts, 1 win, 7 top-fives, 13 top-tens, 11.5 average finish
Sauter finished 6th in the season standings, and took the checkered flag at Las Vegas.
Kevin Harvick Incorporated fielded Hornaday’s No. 33 Chevrolet, and ultimately took their second owners’ title this year. Since entering the Truck Series in 2001, KHI has amassed 26 wins, 93 top-fives, 144 top-tens, and 14 pole positions.
Top Breakthrough Performers of the Year
Stats: 25 starts, 1 win, 5 top-fives, 13 top-tens, 12.1 average finish
After starting with a single-truck team this year, Peters moved to Red Horse Racing in June after capable demonstrating his skills. Peters captured his first Truck Series win ever and ended the season in eighth place overall.
Stats: 25 starts, 1 win, 7 top-fives, 13 top-tens, 12.2 average finish
The One Armed Bandit scored his first career victory at Dover International Speedway and finished seventh for the season. At just 21 years old, Scott still has a lot of racing to do.
Comeback Driver of the Year
Stats: 25 starts, 3 wins, 8 top-fives, 17 top-tens, 9.3 average finish
It didn’t look like Mike Skinner had much going for him in 2009, but the 1995 Truck Series champion showed a lot of guts. Randy Moss Motorsports may not have been the biggest team out there, but Skinner drove the wheels off his truck to finish third in the overall standings.
Top Five Races of the Year (in chronological order)
5) Talladega (October 31)
Hornaday Named Truck Series Driver of the Year
Eight NASCAR.com staff members voted for their Truck Series Driver of the Year, and Hornaday edged a narrow victory over Kyle Busch with a 4-3 vote. The two drivers combined for just over half of the 2009 Truck Series’ wins (13 out of 25). Matt Crafton received the remaining commendation. For the writers’ rationales, visit the second link below.
Images courtesy of Getty Images and NASCAR.com.