Year after year when the Championship Week begins in New York it is always a great time to look back and see some of what has made the season so successful, this season it was the chance to reflect on Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet team's third connsecutive championship.

After several days of photo shoots Thursday was the chance to see all of the drivers have a to be acknowledged for their accomplishments at the annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon at Cipriani in New York.

Johnson picked up five awards and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team received three other awards.

"Today was an opportunity to reflect back on all of the hard work and effort put in by everyone at the race shop," Johnson said. "The emotions kind of go over the top when you take a moment and realize just how special each of these individuals have been in sharing in the success we've had the past three seasons."

Despite all of the awards that took place today and those taking place tomorrow night at the annual Champions Banquet it just seems that the NASCAR presence is a little different this year with all of the tough economic times taking place. So what was the major difference that fans did not have the chance to see? The victory lap around the city was the most notable and the parties that did not take place usually put on by the major manufacturers, Ford and Chevy. At the banquet there are expected to be at least 150 less guests than usual, most sponsors.