Busch, Hornaday honored at year-end ceremony

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- On Monday, for the first time, the postseason awards banquet for the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series was a combined event.

Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday officially were crowned as champions of their respective series for the 2009 season on the Americana Ballroom stage at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Busch was honored with his first NASCAR national series title as champion of the Nationwide Series. Hornaday received his fourth championship ring in the Camping World Truck Series, joining Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty as the only four-time champions in NASCAR's three national series.

The champions were joined on stage by the drivers who finished in Pos. 2-5 in the final standings, along with each series' Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

And after a fan vote on NASCAR.COM, each series' Most Popular Driver also was revealed. Brad Keselowski and Ricky Carmichael were chosen by the fans in the Nationwide and Truck series. Keselowski took home the award for the second consecutive year.

Carl Edwards, Keselowski, Jason Leffler and Mike Bliss finished second through fifth and were honored along with Busch in the Nationwide Series.

Matt Crafton, Mike Skinner, Todd Bodine and Colin Braun were second through fifth in the Truck Series standings, and joined Hornaday on stage.

Justin Allgaier earned the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award in the Nationwide Series while Johnny Sauter claimed the honor in the Truck Series. Both drivers just missed a top-five ranking as each finished sixth in their series.

Rick Allen and Krista Voda from NASCAR on SPEED served as hosts of the event.