Here's one top stories list

It's the time of the year when those of us in the media start voting on our 10 biggest stories of the previous year.

We're planning to start our year-in-review stuff on this week's That's Racin' page with a look back at the Nationwide and Truck Series, followed by a two-part look at the year's top 10 NASCAR stories. I am also working on a story about the biggest non-NASCAR stories for Charlotte and the Carolinas for an upcoming Sunday column.

NASCARmedia.com asked the folks registered on that site to choose the year's top 10 stories last week and the results are now out. More than 180 people voted.

The problem with the stories nominated on that site, of course, is that the list was limited to "competitive" stories -- stuff that happened on the track. That means that a half-dozen or so of the stories that will make most year-end top 10 lists -- the economic woes, tire problems at Indianapolis, issues with the car of tomorrow and former official Mauricia Grant's discrimination suit -- weren't among the nominees this time.

Anyway, here's how the voting turned out. It's not my list, so don't kill the messenger:

1. Jimmie Johnson wins a record-tying third straight championship (75 first-place votes, 1,727 points)

2. Kyle Busch wins 21 races in the Cup, Nationwide and Truck series (13 first-place votes, 1,574 points)

3. Tony Stewart leaves Joe Gibbs Racing

4. Carl Edwards wins nine Cup races and finishes second in the Cup and Nationwide standings.

5. Jeff Gordon goes winless in Cup for the first time since 1994.

6. Ryan Newman gets his first Daytona 500 victory and the first for car owner Roger Penske.

7. Johnny Benson edges Ron Hornaday Jr. to win the Truck Series title.

8. Dale Earnhardt Jr. snaps a 76-race winless streak after moving to Hendrick Motorsports.

9. Clint Bowyer wins the Nationwide Series title.

10. Joey Logano makes his Nationwide debut and wins at Kentucky Speedway