NASCAR's Best Single Seasons of the 2000's

Jimmie Johnson won four championships in the 2000's, but only two of those seasons made the list. In 2004, the championship structure changed, therefore, if a driver had a phenomenal 10-race run along with solid regular season (first 26 races) run, they could make the list.

Jimmie Johnson (2007)

It is safe to assume that the decade of the 2000's marked the commencement of the Johnson-era. Johnson dominated the latter half of the decade winning championships from 2006 to 2009. He continued his championship streak on into the next decade. In 2007, Johnson clinched his second championship after catching fire in the Chase for the Championship. He won four consecutive races, all within the final five races of the season, to put a dagger in Jeff Gordon's title hopes. He won five of the final 11 races, and 10 overall. He is the only driver to reach 10 wins in a single season during the decade of the 2000's. Some NASCAR traditionalists will debate the fact that Johnson was a deserving championship, as Gordon would have easily cruised to his fifth championship under the previous format. However, with the Chase for the Championship rules in place for this era, Johnson had the championship season.

36 races; 10 wins; 20 top 5 finishes; 24 top 10 finishes; 4 poles; 1,289 laps led

Tony Stewart (2005)

In typical fashion, Stewart began the season a little sluggish. However, once the heat of the summer months came around, Stewart caught fire. He would rack up five wins in seven races in mid-season, firmly establishing himself as the championship favorite. While he did not win another race in 2005 after his victory at Watkins Glen, he maintained the consistency necessary in the Chase for the Championship to clinch his second NASCAR championship. Stewart would have also won the championship under the pre-Chase format. It was clearly Stewart's year, also winning his first race at the storied Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He also provided excitement in post-race celebrations, climbing the fence after a victory.

36 races; 5 wins; 17 top 5 finishes; 25 top 10 finishes, 3 poles, 1,845 laps led

Jeff Gordon (2007)

While Gordon did not win his fifth Cup championship in 2007, he produced one of the most impressive seasons in NASCAR history. Gordon won six races, but his consistency throughout the entire season was astonishing. He notched 30 top 10 finishes for the entire 36-race schedule. He became the first driver in the modern era to score 30 top 10's for an entire season. Gordon owned a 312-point lead following Richmond, only to watch it evaporate due to the points resetting for the Chase for the Championship. Under the previous format, Gordon would have likely cruised to another championship.

36 races; 6 wins; 21 top 5 finishes; 30 top 10 finishes; 7 poles; 1,300 laps led

Jimmie Johnson (2009)

In 2009, Johnson won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship, breaking a tie with Cale Yarborough. He scored seven wins, led 2,238 laps during his fourth championship run. Johnson basically cruised through the Chase for the Championship with little competition from the rest of the pack. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin was his nearest competitor. Johnson built a 90-point lead after five races into the championship chase, ultimately winning by a margin of 141 markers.

36 races; 7 wins; 16 top 5 finishes; 24 top 10 finishes; 4 poles; 2,238 laps led

Jeff Gordon (2001)

Gordon's fourth NASCAR title occurred in 2001, the same year that the sport lost Dale Earnhardt in a final lap accident during the Daytona 500. Therefore, when the 2001 season is mentioned, many of us think of Earnhardt. However, Gordon took the torch that Earnhardt prematurely left, and held it high. Gordon won six races, including his third Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. He led 2,320 laps, more than double the amount the Rusty Wallace who was second in laps led with 1,104. Gordon unmistakably dominated the season highlighted by tragedy.

36 races; 6 wins; 18 top 5 finishes; 24 top 10 finishes; 6 poles; 2,320 laps led

Honorable mentions include Bobby Labonte (2000); Jimmie Johnson (2008); Jimmie Johnson (2006); Tony Stewart (2002); Matt Kenseth (2003); Jimmie Johnson (2004); Kurt Busch (2004); Ryan Newman (2003); Carl Edwards (2008); Kyle Busch (2008); Greg Biffle (2005); Mark Martin (2009); Dale Earnhardt Jr (2004); Kevin Harvick (2006)

Resource:Racing-Reference.info