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 race 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 drivers with multiple titles.
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 team.
"I put the team through a lot of hell ever since
I've been with them but they never gave up on me," he 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.
Joe Gibbs told Stewart over the phone after
winning the title to go out and celebrate that it was on him. "You're darn right
you're picking up the tab!" Stewart replied.
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.
Stewart also has a good luck charm with him.
Kyle Petty's wife Pattie gave Stewart a lucky charm from her late son Adam with
the inscription John 3:16 on Sunday morning. Stewart had it in his pocket all
day. Very Nice gesture by the Pettys
| Career Race Data |
Top |
|
Average |
|
| Year |
Races |
Wins |
Poles |
5 |
10 |
DNF |
Finish |
Start |
Winnings |
| 1999 |
34 |
3 |
2 |
12 |
21 |
1 |
10.3 |
12.6 |
$2,613,976 |
| 2000 |
34 |
6 |
2 |
12 |
23 |
5 |
12.4 |
16.7 |
$3,175,270 |
| 2001 |
36 |
3 |
0 |
15 |
22 |
4 |
12.6 |
17.0 |
$3,543,043 |
| 2002 |
36 |
3 |
4 |
15 |
21 |
6 |
12.6 |
13.2 |
$4,695,154 |
| 2003 |
36 |
2 |
1 |
12 |
18 |
5 |
14.6 |
13.9 |
$5,227,503 |
| 2004 |
36 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
19 |
2 |
12.9 |
15.3 |
$6,221,710 |
| 2005 |
36 |
5 |
4 |
17 |
25 |
1 |
9.9 |
12.0 |
$6,987,535 |
|
|
| Totals |
248 |
24 |
13 |
93 |
149 |
24 |
12.2 |
14.4 |
$32,464,191 |
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