Stewart headed for greatness
Better adapted to life in the public eye, 2005 Cup champ has a bright future
By Benny Parsons
NBC Sports
Tony Stewart won't end his career with anywhere close to the number of Cup wins of Richard Petty (200) or David Pearson (105), but when the Indiana native decides to stop racing, there's little question in my mind he'll be considered one of the best stock-car drivers ever.
A change for the better
Every year that goes along Stewart's racing career is getting to be more and more impressive. And 2005 was the most impressive season yet by Stewart, who has been racing in the Cup series since 1999.
The success he had in 2005 brought him his second Cup championship -- the other coming in 2002. But it was a changed Stewart who won this latest title. He was gracious when he won, and also gracious when he didn't win. And that was unlike the Tony Stewart of previous years.
The sometimes volatile Stewart of the past disappeared, replaced by a man and a driver much more comfortable with himself and his lifestyle. A move back home to Indiana played a large part in this transformation.
I think the change in Stewart's personality will make him even a better driver in the future. And his relationship with his crew chief and team is now stronger than ever, and that has helped the No. 20 Chevrolet get better and better. Nowadays, Stewart's team is much more eager to work along with him and improve the car.
Benchmark for greatness
Stewart's not a Hollywood type of guy. He's a blue collar guy who loves racing. That's why he excels whether he's competing in the Cup series or driving midgets and sprints and other types of cars. If a car has four wheels and a steering wheel, Stewart will race it.
Petty and Pearson are 1-2 on NASCAR's all-time race winners list. But they raced in a different era when not only was there often more than one race a week, but the competition was not nearly as deep as it is now. Both were great drivers, but in comparing any modern-day driver to them, the numbers to measure greatness have to change.
In the current era, I think a Cup driver who wins 50 or more career races can be considered exceptional, and reaching such a benchmark is a sure sign of greatness.
In 13 Cup seasons, Jeff Gordon has 73 wins, good enough for seventh all-time, and just three wins shy of sixth place held by the late Dale Earnhardt. In seven Cup seasons, Stewart already has 24 wins. He's halfway to greatness, and his future is extremely bright.
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution congratulating Columbus, Ind., resident Tony Stewart for winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup title Wednesday.
Better adapted to life in the public eye, 2005 Cup champ has a bright future
By Benny Parsons
NBC Sports
Tony Stewart won't end his career with anywhere close to the number of Cup wins of Richard Petty (200) or David Pearson (105), but when the Indiana native decides to stop racing, there's little question in my mind he'll be considered one of the best stock-car drivers ever.
A change for the better
Every year that goes along Stewart's racing career is getting to be more and more impressive. And 2005 was the most impressive season yet by Stewart, who has been racing in the Cup series since 1999.
The success he had in 2005 brought him his second Cup championship -- the other coming in 2002. But it was a changed Stewart who won this latest title. He was gracious when he won, and also gracious when he didn't win. And that was unlike the Tony Stewart of previous years.
The sometimes volatile Stewart of the past disappeared, replaced by a man and a driver much more comfortable with himself and his lifestyle. A move back home to Indiana played a large part in this transformation.
I think the change in Stewart's personality will make him even a better driver in the future. And his relationship with his crew chief and team is now stronger than ever, and that has helped the No. 20 Chevrolet get better and better. Nowadays, Stewart's team is much more eager to work along with him and improve the car.
Benchmark for greatness
Stewart's not a Hollywood type of guy. He's a blue collar guy who loves racing. That's why he excels whether he's competing in the Cup series or driving midgets and sprints and other types of cars. If a car has four wheels and a steering wheel, Stewart will race it.
Petty and Pearson are 1-2 on NASCAR's all-time race winners list. But they raced in a different era when not only was there often more than one race a week, but the competition was not nearly as deep as it is now. Both were great drivers, but in comparing any modern-day driver to them, the numbers to measure greatness have to change.
In the current era, I think a Cup driver who wins 50 or more career races can be considered exceptional, and reaching such a benchmark is a sure sign of greatness.
In 13 Cup seasons, Jeff Gordon has 73 wins, good enough for seventh all-time, and just three wins shy of sixth place held by the late Dale Earnhardt. In seven Cup seasons, Stewart already has 24 wins. He's halfway to greatness, and his future is extremely bright.
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution congratulating Columbus, Ind., resident Tony Stewart for winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup title Wednesday.
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