Stewart caps second championship with steady final run

By JENNA FRYER, AP Motorsports Writer

November 20, 2005

AP - Nov 20, 8:48 pm EST
 

By JENNA FRYER, AP Motorsports Writer

November 20, 2005

AP - Nov 20, 8:48 pm EST

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- Tony Stewart has two championships and a spot in NASCAR history. Both pale in comparison to what he treasures most: Earning the respect of his team and colleagues.

``It's nice that they don't have to talk about my behavior anymore,'' Stewart said. ``That's the biggest honor you can have, for the guys you race with to give you that kind of compliment.''

Smooth and steady for an entire race. An entire season. An entire championship run.

That's the formula Stewart used to win his second NASCAR championship in four years Sunday, capping an uncharacteristically calm season for the former Bad Boy. He won races, kept his temper in check and avoided every major incident long enough to cement himself as one of the greatest drivers of his time.

Needing only to run clean at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he hovered just outside the top 10 and away from any potential danger. Stewart ended up 15th, winning the title by 35 points over Greg Biffle, who won the Ford 400 for the second straight year by besting teammate Mark Martin in a door-to-door finish.

Stewart became just the 14th driver in NASCAR history with more than one championship and joined four-time winner Jeff Gordon as the only active full-time drivers with multiple titles.

ADVERTISEMENT


``I don't believe the trophy makes the man,'' said Mark Martin. ``Tony Stewart, in my eyes, is the greatest race car driver I've watched drive in this era. A.J. Foyt might have been that when I was a little boy, but Tony Stewart is my driving hero.''

But it was not his spot among the elite that earned Stewart praise from his fellow drivers. It was the attitude adjustment that helped him get there.

``Either the therapy is working or he's learned through experience,'' Gordon said. ``He finally started to get the fact that this is a sport that has media involved, fans involved, sponsors involved and it's great that we get the privilege to go out there and drive these race cars ... but sometimes you forget about the big picture and I think it took Tony a little while.

``He gets it now and it's showing in his personality.''

For Stewart, it was the perfect finale to what's been a perfect season both on and off the track.

He had a tortured run to the title in 2002, punching a photographer the lowest point of a rollercoaster season pocked by bad behavior and blowups. So he'll treasure this title, a gift to the team that stuck with him through thick and thin.

After an emotional embrace with crew chief Greg Zipadelli -- interrupted by chants of ``Climb the fence!'' from his fans -- he dedicated the win to his Joe Gibbs Racing crew members, who showered with bottle after bottle of Coke from the risers above.

``I put the team through a lot of hell ever since I've been with them but they never gave up on me,'' Stewart said. ``Zippy didn't want to win it the way we did in 2002. It was nice to do it and do it right.''


AP - Nov 20, 8:46 pm EST
More Photos


The post-race excitement was marred by tragedy when two helicopters collided at the track, killing one pilot. One helicopter was taking off from the speedway's helipad while another was attempting to land.

The championship was the third for Gibbs, now coach of the Washington Redskins, and first for his son, J.D., who took over the leadership role when his father went to the NFL.

``Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate,'' Joe Gibbs said over a telephone line while Stewart accepted the Nextel Cup trophy, ``and I'm picking up the tab!''

``You're darn right you're picking up the tab!'' replied Stewart, who won at least $5.8 million with the title.

Indeed, Gibbs was instrumental in getting Stewart to finally settle down.

One day during the offseason, he ordered the driver into the race shop for a heart-to-heart talk with his team. He wanted the crew to open their hearts and make Stewart see just how difficult he made their jobs.

When the meeting was over, Stewart was a changed man.

He moved back to Indiana into his childhood home, surrounding himself with family and old friends who helped temper his frequent mood swings. It showed in his personality and in his performance, especially during the summer -- when he turned it up a notch to become the hottest driver in NASCAR.

Reeling off a string of five victories in seven races, nothing could beat Stewart, not even his old nemesis -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track had tormented him his entire career, denying him time after time in both stock and Indy cars.

But not even Indy could derail Stewart this season. He finally scored a win at the Brickyard in August.

``To win at home in the Brickyard was a race of a lifetime,'' he said.

For the first time all season it pushed Stewart into the points lead, where he would stay for 13 of the final 14 weeks. He was on top at the start of the 10-race Chase for the championship and fell off the leaderboard just once, when he dropped to fifth after Round 2.

Stewart raced his way back on top a week later and never looked back, notching six top 10 finishes during the Chase. By the time he got to Sunday's finale, he needed only to finish ninth or better to clinch the title.

Only Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Biffle had a chance to beat him, and Johnson saw his hopes squashed 126 laps into the race when an apparent leak in his right rear tire finally gave out. The tire exploded and sent him smashing into the wall.

A two-time runner up for the title the past two seasons, Johnson desperately wanted to avoid falling short yet again. But as the cars raced around him and he stood dejected in the garage, Johnson would have traded anything to be back out there with a shot at second. Instead, he dropped all the way back to fifth in a frustrating end to his season.

``I look back at the season and we did everything we could,'' he said. ``So I'm disappointed. I lived my whole life for this ... I'll be back next year.''

With Johnson out, Stewart only needed to keep an eye on Edwards and Biffle. It wasn't difficult -- both of them were running at the front of the pack, far ahead of Stewart.

But as long as he didn't make a colossal mistake, the title was his to lose. So he watched as the Roush Racing teammates battled for the win, focusing only on keeping his Chevrolet off the wall and on the lead lap.

He succeeded, and some 45 minutes after crossing the finish line, he was cleared to climb the fence for one final celebration.


It was a rather methodical Chase for Tony Stewart, but it was good enough. Despite not winning once in the final 10 races, Stewart won his second Cup championship Sunday at Homestead.


HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Tony Stewart was smooth and steady for an entire race. An entire season. An entire championship run.

Stewart cruised to his second NASCAR championship in four years Sunday, capping an uncharacteristically calm season for the former Bad Boy. He won races, kept his temper in check and avoided every major incident long enough to cement himself as one of the greatest drivers of his time.



TONY STEWART
� Driver Page
� 2005 Statistics
� 2005 Championship Gear

COKE TRACK ACCESS
Interactive race highlights and instant win game


Inside the Numbers
Multiple Cup championships
Rank Driver No.

1. Dale Earnhardt 7
Richard Petty 7
3. Jeff Gordon 4
4. David Pearson 3
Lee Petty 3
Darrell Waltrip 3
Cale Yarborough 3
8. Buck Baker 2
Tim Flock 2
Ned Jarrett 2
Terry Labonte 2
Tony Stewart 2
Herb Thomas 2
Joe Weatherly 2


Needing only to run a clean race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he hovered just outside the top 10 and away from any potential danger. He ended up 15th, winning the title by 35 points over Greg Biffle, who won the Ford 400 for the second consecutive year by besting teammate Mark Martin in a door-to-door finish.

Stewart became just the 14th driver in NASCAR history with more than one championship and joined four-time winner Jeff Gordon as the only active full-time drivers with multiple titles.

"Once you win more than one, it definitely puts you into an elite group and you are going to be looked upon different," Gordon said. "You win one, you are looked at differently. Win two and it takes you to another level."

Gordon, who failed to qualify for the Chase for the championship, rallied during the final 10 races and finished the year 11th in points. That was good for a $1 million prize and a trip to the series' banquet in New York.

For Stewart, it was the perfect finale to what's been a perfect season both on and off the track.

He had a tortured run to the title in 2002, punching a photographer the lowest point of a rollercoaster season pocked by bad behavior and blowups. So he'll treasure this title, a gift to the team that stuck with him through thick and thin.

After an emotional embrace with crew chief Greg Zipadelli -- interrupted by chants of "Climb the fence!" from his fans -- he dedicated the win to his Joe Gibbs Racing crew members, who showered him in Coke from the risers above.

"I put the team through a lot of hell ever since I've been with them but they never gave up on me," Stewart said. "Zippy didn't want to win it the way we did in 2002. It was nice to do it and do it right."

The championship was the third for Gibbs, now coach of the Washington Redskins, and first for his son, J.D., who took over the leadership role when his father went to the NFL.

"Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate," Joe Gibbs said over a telephone line while Stewart accepted the Nextel Cup trophy, "and I'm picking up the tab!"

"You're darn right you're picking up the tab!" replied Stewart, who won at least $5.8 million with the title.

Indeed, Gibbs was instrumental in getting Stewart to finally settle down.

One day during the offseason, he ordered the driver into the race shop for a heart-to-heart talk with his team. He wanted the crew to open their hearts and make Stewart see just how difficult he made their jobs.

When the meeting was over, Stewart was a changed man.

Inside the Chase
Final point standings
Rank Driver Pts. Behind

1. T. Stewart 6,533 --
2. G. Biffle 6,498 -35
3. C. Edwards 6,498 -35
4. M. Martin 6,428 -105
5. J. Johnson 6,406 -127
6. R. Newman 6,359 -174
7. M. Kenseth 6,352 -181
8. R. Wallace 6,140 -393
9. J. Mayfield 6,073 -460
10. Ku. Busch 5,974 -559

� Race results, click here
� Cup standings, click here

Tony takes CupTony Stewart celebrates his 2005 Nextel Cup title
Final lapsGreg Biffle and Mark Martin battle to the checkered flag
Ford 400Highlights from the season-ending race via TrackPass
Sign up for TrackPass nowBUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE
He moved back to Indiana into his childhood home, surrounding himself with family and old friends who had a calming effect on his frequent mood swings. It showed in his personality and in his performance, especially during the summer when he turned it up a notch to become the hottest driver in NASCAR.

Reeling off a string of five victories in seven races, nothing could beat Stewart, not even his old nemesis -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track had tormented him his entire career, denying him time after time in both stock and Indy cars.

But not even Indy could derail Stewart this season. He finally scored a win at the Brickyard in August.

"To win at home in the Brickyard was a race of a lifetime," he said.

For the first time all season it pushed Stewart into the points lead, where he would stay for 13 of the final 14 weeks. He was on top at the start of the 10-race Chase for the championship and fell off the leaderboard just once, when he dropped to fifth after Round 2.

Stewart raced his way back on top a week later and never looked back, notching six top 10 finishes during the Chase. By the time he got to Sunday's finale, he needed only to finish ninth or better to clinch the title.

Only Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Biffle had a chance to beat him, and Johnson saw his hopes squashed 126 laps into the race when an apparent leak in his right rear tire finally gave out. The tire exploded and sent him smashing into the wall.

A two-time runner up for the title the past two seasons, Johnson desperately wanted to avoid falling short yet again. But as the cars raced around him as he stood dejected in the garage, Johnson would have traded anything to be back out there with a shot at second. Instead, he dropped all the way back to fifth in a frustrating end to his season.

"I look back at the season and we did everything we could," he said. "So I'm disappointed. I lived my whole life for this ... I'll be back next year."

With Johnson out, Stewart only needed to keep an eye on Edwards and Biffle. It wasn't difficult -- both of them were running at the front of the pack, far ahead of Stewart.

But as long as he didn't make a colossal mistake, the title was his to lose. So he watched as the Roush Racing teammates battled for the win, focusing only on keeping his Chevrolet off the wall and on the lead lap.

He succeeded, and some 45 minutes after crossing the finish line, he was cleared to climb the fence for one final celebration.

Timeline

what's this?
Refinance Rates at Record Lows
Get $150,000 loan for $720 per month. Refinance and save $1000s....
lowermybills.com
$150,000 Mortgage for $483/Month
Refinance and save $1000s! Compare up to 4 free offers. All credit...
pickamortgage.com
GEICO - Get a Car Insurance Quote Today
Visit GEICO.com for an instant, line-by-line rate quote. In just...
geico.com


� Feb. 20 -- Stewart led a race-high 107 laps in the season-opening Daytona 500 and appeared to be the driver to beat, but faded late to a seventh-place finish. He was baited by rival crew chief Chad Knaus after the race, but in the first sign of a calmer Stewart, walked away.

� April 23 -- Finishes a season-worst 33rd at Phoenix to drop to 14th in the points standings, the lowest Stewart would fall all season.

� June 26 -- Scored his first victory of the season on the road course in Sonoma, Calif.

� July 2 -- In his most dominating performance of the year, Stewart led all but nine laps at Daytona to score his second consecutive win. He started from the pole and lost the lead only after pit stops, breaking the record of 142 laps led set by Cale Yarborough in 1968. He also began his post-race celebration of climbing the fence after this win.

� July 17 -- Stewart cemented himself as the hottest driver in NASCAR by winning at New Hampshire, his third victory in four races. He was dominant again, leading a race-high 232 laps.

� Aug. 7 -- In a career-defining moment, Stewart overcame his demons at his beloved Indianapolis Motor Speedway and finally won a race there, moving into first in the standings and becoming the driver to beat.

� Aug. 14 -- Proving to be unbeatable on road courses, Stewart won for the fifth time in seven races with his victory at Watkins Glen. He led 83 of the 92 laps.

� Sept. 18 -- Stewart began the Chase for the championship with a second-place finish at New Hampshire.

� Sept. 25 -- A miserable 18th-place finish at Dover dropped Stewart off the leaderboard for the first time in eight weeks. He fell to fifth in the standings, but recovered a week later with a strong run at Talladega to move back to first place.

� Oct. 15 -- Stewart had his worst finish of the Chase when he was one of the numerous drivers to suffer a tire problem at Charlotte. His exploded while he was leading the race, causing him to crash and finish 25th. He maintained his lead in the standings, but fretted that the result might cost him in the race for the title.

� Nov. 20 -- Stewart finished 15th in the Ford 400, wrapping up his second championship in four years.




Greg Biffle celebrates winning the Ford 400 championship race in Homestead, Fla. Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005.
Race winner Biffle knows where he lost Chase
By Ryan Smithson, NASCAR.COM
November 20, 2005
09:17 PM EST (02:17 GMT)




HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Greg Biffle says he can't be disappointed with second place. In the same breath, he laments a pair of 20th-place finishes that ended his title hopes before Homestead.

After admitting he was out of the title chase before Homestead, Biffle nearly pulled off the impossible by winning and rallying to finish second in the points.

In the process, he scored his series-leading sixth win of the season after going nearly the entire second half without a victory.


Credit: Autostock

Inside the Chase
Final point standings
Rank Driver Pts. Behind

1. T. Stewart 6,533 --
2. G. Biffle 6,498 -35
3. C. Edwards 6,498 -35
4. M. Martin 6,428 -105
5. J. Johnson 6,406 -127
6. R. Newman 6,359 -174
7. M. Kenseth 6,352 -181
8. R. Wallace 6,140 -393
9. J. Mayfield 6,073 -460
10. Ku. Busch 5,974 -559

� Race results, click here
� Cup standings, click here

Tony takes CupTony Stewart celebrates his 2005 Nextel Cup title
Final lapsGreg Biffle and Mark Martin battle to the checkered flag
Ford 400Highlights from the season-ending race via TrackPass
Sign up for TrackPass nowBUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE
As it was, Biffle ended up 35 points short, and he pointed specifically to Texas and Martinsville as the backbreakers.

"Just amazing season for us. It makes it hurt that we lost by 35 points," said Biffle. "We can go back and see so many things. Loose wheel at Texas or that bad run at Martinsville. Just a little margin.

"That was a little sting in the side was that loose wheel in Texas. [It] cost us 50 points. That kind of hurts a little bit."

Still, Biffle is smiling. For the second consecutive year, Biffle's Nextel Cup career took a sharp upswing. He has gone from one win (2003) to two (2004) to six (2005).

"Ending up second in points was just incredible. Six wins. Just amazing," said Biffle.

Equally amazing was the way Biffle managed to win at Homestead. Biffle blew away the field to win at Homestead last year, but this year was different.

Way different. They won this race in the pits. For a guy who often wins races by overpowering the field, this make-you-good-for-the-final-laps effort was refreshing.

Biffle won the race after a two-tire call by crew chief Doug Richert with 11 laps to go.

On just two new tires, Biffle says his car came to life.

After the restart, Biffle dispatched Dave Blaney and Mark Martin, although Martin nearly came back to beat Biffle on the final lap.

"The two-tire call at the end was Doug's call," said Biffle. "The car was perfect. I drove down in Turn 1 and it just stuck.

"I put spring rubbers in and track bar and wedge all night long, the last run I was really good and we put two tires there for the last run and I was awesome. It was perfect. It took me all night to get my car where it was."


NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace waves to the crowd during driver introductions Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005 in Homestead, Fla. before the start of the Ford 400 championship race. Wallace will retire after this race.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks to nascar.com for permission to use their sites content.
This document can not be reproduced, republished, or reprinted in any way shape or form without the permission of nascar.com.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------