2009 NASCAR Cup Series Season Recap

Originally published on May 4, 2020

By Zane Miller

On Sunday, November 22nd, 2009, the 2009 NASCAR Cup Series season concluded with Jimmie Johnson defeating Mark Martin by 141 points to win the 61st championship in Cup Series history. It was the fourth Cup Series championship for Johnson. Tony Stewart claimed the regular season championship.

The 2009 Daytona 500 was won by Matt Kenseth, while Kyle Busch led the most laps with 88. The event was concluded 48 laps early due to rain and is the most recent 500 to be rain-shortened.

2009 playoff results

12. #83 Brian Vickers (-723 points)

11. #99 Carl Edwards (-534)

10. #9 Kasey Kahne (-524)

9. #39 Ryan Newman (-477)

8. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya (-400)

7. #16 Greg Biffle (-360)

6. #14 Tony Stewart (-343)

5. #11 Denny Hamlin (-317)

Hamlin scored fifth with four wins, 15 top-fives and 20 top-10s for an average finish of 13.2. Hamlin also led the most laps in six races.

4. #2 Kurt Busch (-206)

Busch got the fourth spot with a pair of wins, 10 top-fives and 21 top-10s for an average finish of 12.8 while leading the most laps in one race.

3. #24 Jeff Gordon (-179)

Gordon claimed third as he had one win, 16 top-fives and 25 top-10s, taking an average finish of 10.2. Gordon also led the most laps in one race.

2. #5 Mark Martin (-141)

Martin took his fifth career runner-up points finish with five wins, 14 top-fives and 21 top-10s for an average finish of 13.7, while leading the most laps in three races.

1. #48 Jimmie Johnson

Johnson won his fourth consecutive championship as he had seven wins, 16 top-fives and 24 top-10s, while leading the most laps in nine races.

Race Winners (left) & Lap Leaders (right)

 

Link to stats database: https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/2009/W