Links - A look back at the year that was in NASCAR - North River Minor Hockey Association

A look back at the year that was in NASCAR LOGINREGISTERHELPYOU ARE NOT LOGGED IN NHLNBAMLBCFLNFLCurlingTennisGolfSoccerNASCARFormula OneIndyCar NASCAR Canadian Tire SeriesNationwideCamping WorldAuto RacingWorld JuniorsSpengler CupMenS WHCWomenS WHCHockey CanadaAHLBoxingCanada GamesCHLCISECHLFigure SkatingLacrosseMMANCAASkiingSummer SportsWinter SportsMoreOlympicsFantasyDaily LineShowsTSN TalentCommunityMainScheduleStandingsChampionsAllTime WinsNASCAR ScheduleStandingsChampionsTeams AllTime WinsFormula One ScheduleStandingsChampions AllTime WinsIndyCarNASCAR Canadian Tire SeriesScheduleStandingsChampions AllTime WinsNationwide ScheduleStandingsChampions AllTime WinsCamping World eotText SizeHOMESTEAD Fla Its too soon for Jimmie Johnson to contemplate his place in NASCAR history Hell save those conversations for a time long after the champagne has stopped flowing on his record fourth consecutive championshipBut after charging his way into the elite club of drivers with more than three titles Richard Petty Dale Earnhardt Jeff Gordon Johnson cant escape the debates over where he stands among the alltime greatsIts tough for me to really reflect on it when Im still competing he said Toward the end of my career Im sure Ill focus a lot more on it But right now were just kind of in a rhythm of things and I hope to keep it goingTheres no guarantees it will continue But Im just trying to keep the same mindset same work ethic same focus and just see how long we can keep this thing movingAnother long year over and Johnson heads into another offseason still plotting how to keep his spot atop the Sprint Cup SeriesBut its hardly a case of groundhog day The 2009 season was unlike any year in recent memoryIt will of course be remembered for Johnsons historic march And the lateseason emergence of Brad Keselowski as NASCARs newest polarizing figure is certainly fresh in everyones mindBut NASCAR faced a lot of challenges between the February opener at Daytona and last weekends conclusion at Homestead Many remain unresolvedTheres the ongoing saga of driver Jeremy Mayfield who has refused to quietly go away after becoming the first driver suspended under NASCARs toughened drug policy The drama consumed NASCAR all summer and just when the controversy finally seemed to simmer Mayfield hired highprofile lawyer Mark Geragos and ramped up his fight another notchNow it will drag on through the offseason as Geragos attempts to introduce aspects of NASCAR chairman Brian Frances personal life to the case Just this week NASCAR asked a federal court to prevent Geragos from collecting information and documents from Frances exwifeNASCAR also is still feeling the pinch from the economic crisis Teams still struggling to find sponsorship continue to fight for their survival with mixed results The organization known as GillettEvernham Motorsports...