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It backs Sprint Cup's most successful team, the four-time defending series champion and a collection of organizations that for the seventh straight year put it atop the series' wins list.

It saw one of its former champions return to the nest with his own team and place him and his new teammate, a former Dodge driver, in the Chase.

An international superstar appears to have made the transition from open wheel star to NASCAR championship contender the season his team switched from Dodge.

It is a giddy thing to be a dynasty in progress and Chevrolet is wringing every bit of out the experience right now.

So are Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Juan Pablo Montoya, respectively.

Will things change in 2010? They were pretty good in 2009 even with Richard Childress Racing run aground and the team owner promises improvement.

A major question is whether Stewart-Haas suffers a sophomore slump after struggling, a top executive said, finishing its freshman campaign. Oh, to have such worries.[[In-content Ad]]1. Jimmie Johnson (car No. 48): He is the king until he is the king no longer. A couple more years like the last four and he might become 'The King,' at least on the all-time champions list.

2. Mark Martin (car No. 5): At 51, he pushes (or shames) men half his age every day with his work ethic and unrelenting intensity. A first championship would be a by-product, not necessarily the culmination, of his pursuit.

3. Jeff Gordon (car No. 24): The four-time champion would be burnishing a nice autumn period to his spectacular career if not for his dastardly teammate.

4. Tony Stewart (car No. 14): IndyCar champion. Two-time Sprint Cup champion. Successful driver/owner.

5. Juan Pablo Montoya (car No. 42): The former open wheel star slid into the NASCAR lifestyle seamlessly, and in three seasons became a championship contender.

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