Johnny Benson won the championship by holding off Ron Hornaday Jr, in the late laps at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images) » More Photos

“We have accomplished those goals. I am excited about being Craftsman's last champion and being the ambassador for (news series sponsor) Camping World. We are going to enjoy this off season.”

The championship was the first for the Bill and Gail Davis, who have operated a NASCAR team for more than two decades and won the 2002 Daytona 500 with driver Ward Burton.

“Winning a championship is what NASCAR is all about; the ultimate goal,” said Bill Davis in his banquet remarks. “For Gail and me, we have been lucky enough to be in the championship hunt for the last three seasons. We have been so close so many times.”

Bruce, a 31-year-old Chester, Va., native, teamed with Benson for the past two seasons. Their nine victories rank No. 2 in the series over the two-year period.

During 2008, Benson and the team collected awards of $1,181,997 – most in series history.

Benson was also named the series’ Most Popular Driver for the third consecutive season. It marked the first time that fans could vote for the award.

Craftsman, the series’ presenting sponsor in 1995 and full entitlement sponsor since the following season, will be succeeded by Camping World under a seven-year agreement beginning in 2009. The series will be known as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

“Over our 14-year span we’ve crowned 10 different champions in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and have been proud to watch many of our series stars go on to become great heroes of NASCAR,” said Mike Cassar, Craftsman brand manager. “While our role will change going forward, Craftsman will remain as the Official Tools of NASCAR.”

The 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season will begin Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway.