The top 10 NASCAR drivers of 2009

1. Jimmie Johnson

Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 5
Wins: 7
Championship position: 1st

Now has a very strong argument to be considered the best NASCAR driver of all time. When the Chase begins, he kicks into a higher gear than the opposition seem able to select. On this form, he appears unstoppable. Would you bet against a fifth straight title next year?

2. Mark Martin

Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 7
Wins: 5
Championship position: 2nd

Most people take it easy when they get to 50, but this old-timer just gets better with age. Five wins and seven poles were simply staggering, and all the more praiseworthy when you consider it was his first year at Hendrick with its often-dysfunctional #5 car.

3. Denny Hamlin

Joe Gibbs Racing
Toyota

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 1
Wins: 4
Championship position: 5th

Rick Hendrick considers him the strongest challenger to his team's dominance. One mistake, when he messed with Montoya at a restart, and two engine failures ruined his title bid when it came to the Chase. To many people's surprise - not least Kyle Busch - Hamlin taken over the team leader role at Gibbs from Tony Stewart.

4. Tony Stewart

Stewart-Haas Racing
Chevrolet

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 4
Wins: 4
Championship position: 6th

Seemed more focused this year, despite his extra duties as a team owner, and certainly seemed happier being back behind the wheel of a Chevy rather than a Toyota. Revelled in being his own boss, and is as feisty as ever, without getting into too many silly scrapes that we've associated with him (and loved him for).

5. Kyle Busch

Joe Gibbs Racing
Toyota

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 1
Wins: 4
Championship position: 13th

Didn't even make the Chase, so what's he doing here? Won four times, and still the best racer out there - but can anyone make sense of his talent and decode it into a Cup title? Look at his form in Nationwide, and you'll see he can do it.

6. Jeff Gordon

Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 2
Wins: 1
Championship position: 3rd

Sounds like he's getting ever more frustrated at his inferior performance compared to Johnson. Moaned quite a lot, but shows desire is still there, even if that fifth title remains illusive. At least he won a race this year - but with Hendrick machinery, he should be in victory lane multiple times.

7. Kurt Busch

Penske Racing
Dodge

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 0
Wins: 2
Championship position: 4th

Scored a couple of wins and was the model of consistency on his way to fourth in the point standings - his best since his 2004 title year. Neither of his team-mates at Penske came close to pushing him on to greater results. The addition of young buck Brad Keselowski should be fascinating in 2010.

8. Juan Pablo Montoya

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
Chevrolet

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 2
Wins: 0
Championship position: 8th

He might not have won a race, but JPM looked quick on all types of track, not just road courses or short tracks. Montoya made great strides, doing the famous Earnhardt-Ganassi names of his team owners proud. The apprenticeship is over; he's now a serious NASCAR contender.

9. Kasey Kahne

Richard Petty Motorsports
Dodge

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 0
Wins: 2
Championship position: 10th

High points included making the Chase and winning his first road course race at Sears Point. The darling of the TV adverts had real substance to add to his profile and popularity. Ninth in the points is his second-highest ever finish. A switch to Fords next year could propel him further.

10. Marcos Ambrose

JTG Daugherty Racing
Toyota

Cup starts: 36
Poles: 0
Wins: 0
Championship position: 18th

Always a threat on road courses, Ambrose led laps elsewhere on merit and looks ever more at home on ovals. Third at Bristol was no mean feat for this former double Australian V8 Supercar champion. The 'thunder from down under' isn't far away from rumbling his way into victory lane.