Top performances, races highlight of Truck season

There certainly were some outstanding performances -- both from a driving and racing standpoint -- that took place during the recently completed 2009 Camping World Truck Series season.

The following is a look back at some of those standout performers and memorable races, as selected from discussions with the national series directors, competition department and NASCAR PR managers:

Nod to the champ

Ron Hornaday had plenty of history on his side, but it took one dissenting vote for him to edge Kyle Busch and be NASCAR.COM's 2009 Truck Series Driver of the Year.

• More

Top Drivers (in alphabetical order)

• Kyle Busch -- In 15 starts this season, Busch collected seven wins, 11 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. Busch had an average finish of 4.3. His strong performance in the final races of the season had his team owner, Billy Ballew, in contention for his first NASCAR owners' title up until the season finale.

• Matt Crafton -- Finished second in the championship standings, his best finish and fifth top-10 finish in the final points in nine seasons as a full-time competitor. Crafton earned 11 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes and collected two poles this season. He held the lead in the point standings for two weeks before falling to second behind Hornaday.

• Ron Hornaday -- At age 51 he becomes the first driver in the Truck Series to win a fourth championship. He joins first ballot Hall of Fame selections Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, along with Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, as the only drivers to have captured four national series titles. Hornaday added his name to another distinguished list by becoming only the third driver to win five consecutive races in NASCAR's three national series. Petty and Bobby Allison both won five in a row in 1971 in the Cup Series. Hornaday finished the season with six wins, 15 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes, and four poles.

→ Shop: Hornaday championship gear!

Raybestos Rookie of the Year

• Johnny Sauter -- In his first full season in the series, Sauter found the right mix with his ThorSport Racing team to pull ahead in what had been a close battle among the rookie class to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. The Necedah, Wis., native grabbed his first series win at Las Vegas in September. Sauter finished the year sixth in the standings with one win, seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes along with two poles. (Continued)