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2005 Season Final Points Standing 1st After First 26 Races 1st Earnings $13,578,168 Starts 36 Poles 3 Wins 5 Top 5 17 6-10 8 Laps Led 1,845 Lead Lap Finishes 28 Bonus Points 150 Races Led 19

2005 Performance Below is the ranking of the team on each type of track along with the driver's best finish. Track Type Ranking Flat Tracks 1st Best Finish 1st, Indianapolis, Intermediate Tracks 5th Best Finish 2nd, Michigan Plate Tracks 1st Best Finish 1st, Daytona Road Courses 1st Best Finish 1st, Infineon, Watkins Glen Short Tracks 1st Best Finish 2nd, Martinsville, Richmond

It's amazing what a change of scenery will do.

Tony Stewart moved away from the NASCAR-frenzied Charlotte area to his hometown of Columbus, Ind., and was reborn. A calmer, more relaxed Stewart brought a level of maturity and respect to the Home Depot team that paid immediate dividends. A torrid streak of 13 consecutive top 10 finishes in midseason catapulted the team from 10th to first in the point standings, and the rout was on.

The 2006 season should see Stewart back up front and battling the usual suspects for his third crown. Joe Gibbs Racing has put stellar equipment into the hands of the country's most versatile driver, and a repeat is on the agenda.

Stewart's biggest dose of competition will once again come from the Roush Racing camp. Greg Biffle gave him all he could handle last season and will be expected to do the same in 2006.

The addition of two rookie drivers to the Gibbs fold, Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley, will essentially convert the organization into a single-car team. With a new testing schedule and the inexperience on hand, this outfit will be a far cry from the Roush juggernaut that could very easily return all five cars to the Chase.

Expect Stewart and Greg Zipadelli to keep the Home Depot Chevy in the thick of the hunt all season. If Biffle slips, Tony will be there to take full advantage.

Making up for lost time, Stewart reeled off 13 straight top 10 finishes, with all five of his victories coming in that span. The win at the Brickyard would be the defining moment of his championship run as a jubilant Stewart celebrated with fans and crew alike upon earning his dream win. With momentum on its side, the team would hold the points lead for 15 of the remaining 16 events.

The Dover Chase event would be the only serious hiccup the rest of the way. His 18th-place run dropped him to fifth in the standings, but that would be short-lived. A late caution prevented him from taking checkers at Talladega, but the runner-up finish propelled him back to first. Five top 10s and a steady 15th at Homestead secured the Cup for a deserving Stewart.

• The Good: How about, “The Best.” Making the pass with 10 laps to go to win the Brickyard was clearly the highlight of Tony Stewart's career. The victory celebration was the most gratifying one we've seen in a while, as well.

• The Bad: After Stewart led almost half the race in Martinsville, loose lug nuts broke a wheel, costing him the race and two positions in the points.

• The Ugly: Consecutive runs of 26th, 31st and 33rd in April were the low point of Stewart's 2005 campaign. In those three races he fell from third to 14th in the point standings.