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Driver of the Year
My pick here is Tony Stewart, who in 2005 won his second Cup championship -- his first title coming in 2002.
For about the first third of the year, Stewart had nowhere near the dominant car he had from the middle of June until the end of the season. He won five times in 2005 -- at Sonoma, Daytona Beach, Loudon, Indianapolis, and Watkins Glen.
Besides those wins he had 12 more top-fives, and 20 more top 10s. He crossed the checkers 10th or better 19 times in his last 22 starts. He also led the Cup series in laps completed, miles completed, times led, laps led and miles led.
It was a different 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. Nowadays, Stewart's team is much more eager to work along with him and improve the car.
Stewart races because he loves racing, and 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.
Crew Chief of the Year
I split this award between Greg Zipadelli, crew chief for Tony Stewart, and Doug Richert, crew chief for Greg Biffle, who finished second to Stewart in the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.
Richert had the No. 16 Ford of Roush Racing strong throughout the season, and the car got to Victory Lane six times in 2005.
In addition to Biffle and Richert being friends, I think they appreciate each other's abilities. I also think Biffle and Richert have the kind of relationship where they can tell each other anything, and that helps them in their racing.
I have to credit Zipadelli with hitting on something in a test in the middle of June at Michigan International Speedway that Stewart liked, and that made the No. 20 Chevrolet of Joe Gibbs Racing super competitive for the remainder of the season.
But to arrive at a point where Stewart's car became dominant, Zipadelli went through many changes on the Chevrolet, a process that went on for months before the car responded in a way that made Stewart near unbeatable.
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