Drivers, owners, and teams from the NASCAR Nationwide Series gathered at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami, Fla., Monday for the series' awards banquet. This year's banquet was a joint one for the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series.

Kyle Busch took top Nationwide Series driver honors, claiming the trophy for his first NASCAR touring championship. His team owner, Joe Gibbs, also was presented a trophy as the champion car owner.

"You know, really, it's a true testament to this team, to Jason, Joe and J.D., all the guys that work so hard at Joe Gibbs Racing in order to make this possible," Busch said following the season-finale Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday.

Busch's championship campaign included nine wins and 25 top-five finishes (20 of those being either first or second-place finishes). He finished outside of the top-10 in only five out of 35 races this season.

His season-ending points total of 5682 represented the most points ever scored by a single driver in a Nationwide Series season.

Carl Edwards was recognized for his second-place finish to the the season. Brad Keselowski, Jason Leffler, and Mike Bliss rounded out the top-five.

Keselowski was the highest finishing non-Sprint Cup Series full-time driver with his third-place effort.

Bliss managed a fifth-place effort this season despite climbing behind the wheel of six different cars throughout 2009.

Keselowski was also named the series' Most Popular Driver.

Justin Allgaier was named the Nationwide Series' Rookie of the Year.

"I want to thank Raybestos and NASCAR for allowing me the opportunity to do this, and especially Roger Penske and Penske Racing," Allgaier said. "Last year at this time I wasn't sure exactly what we were going to do. I thought we were going to run about ten races. And so to come out here with the Rookie of the Year means a lot."