NASCAR champions

It’s a lot more than 500 miles of left turns, as any serious NASCAR fan will tell you.

It’s about rivalries. It’s about passion. It’s about hating Jeff Gordon, even if you’ve never met the man, and loving Dale Earnhardt, Jr., whether he ever wins another race or not.

NASCAR divides families, bridges cultural boundaries, and often defies common sense. Still, hundreds of thousands pack tracks across America every week, dreaming of that great final lap where the winner crosses the finish line upside down, preferably on fire.

Whether it’s named for Winston or Nextel or Sprint, a cup is awarded to the points leader at the end of the season. In 2008, Jimmie Johnson joined Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to win three consecutive titles.

Here’s the list of the last 10 champions, with number of victories that season and money won:

2008 — Jimmie Johnson (7): $7,225,850

2007 — Jimmie Johnson (10): $7,646,420

2006 — Jimmie Johnson (5): $8,909,140

2005 — Tony Stewart (5): $6,987,530

2004 — Kurt Busch (3): $4,200,330

2003 — Matt Kenseth (1); $4,038,120

2002 – Tony Stewart (3); $4,695,150

2001 — Jeff Gordon (6): $6,649,080

2000 — Bobby Labonte (4): $4,041,750

1999 — Dale Jarrett (4): $3,608,829

Source: NASCAR.com