Motorsport News: Russ Bonds Weekly Report

Stewart, Truex and Musgrave Take Titles

I could start off this column with some witty line about the Home Depot Monte Carlo winning at Homestead, bringing home Tony Stewarts second Cup championship, but why scoop that low. Instead, Ill say that Tony Stewart did just about everything right during the chase. He had his one bad race - Charlotte - and promptly motored off into the sunset after that, and was never seriously challenged for the title. Charlotte really didnt count, because who didnt have a bad race there. At Homestead, Stewart did what he needed to come home a champion, which he is. While it was a little tense at times, the difference between a champion, Stewart, and the contender, Jimmie Johnson was quite clear.

Johnson,

At Homestead, Stewart did what he needed to come home a champion. (Photo: Dorsey Patrick)

clearly had a problem with his right rear tire, yet refused to come in under green to have it fixed. The thinking here was that a lap down - at least - would make his chances of recovery difficult. So, he stayed out and crashed instead. Now, if you put the same scenario back on Stewarts lap, which has happened to Stewart during this chase, he took the one lap penalty, and then motored back to score a decent finish. The difference in the end - one is on the trailer, one is

Matt Kenseth pits on his way to a 3rd place finish. (Photo: Autostock)

in the victory circle.
NASCAR couldnt have asked for a better finish to the year, and in some ways the two that really deserved a better shot at the title went fender to fender for the final two laps and put on a terrific show. Mark Martin and Greg Biffle, if not for a few mishaps, could have been dicing for not only the win, but the championship. Can you imagine what the finish would have looked like if a championship had been on the line during that final lap? Biffle took the win, Martin second, and now the year is done. An honorable mention should go to Jeff Gordon, who rebounded well

Martin Truex Jr captured his second Busch title in a row. (Photo: Autostock)

during the final 10 races to finish 11th in the championship. An honorable mention should also go to Carl Edwards, who was dominant early, and looked like he was in a position to upset Stewart for the title. Edwards may well think this is one that got away.
Also at Homestead, Martin Truex Jr captured his second Busch title in a row, with a seventh place finish after crashing his primary car in qualifying. Truex is one of the best up and coming stars of the sport, and its only a matter of time before he starts winning Cup races.

Veteran driver Ted Musgrave captured his first title when he clinched the Craftsman Truck Series with a 19th place finish at Homestead.

Dale Jarrett leads Matt Kenseth and Ricky Rudd in turn four. Jarrett went on to finish 17th. (Photo: Autostock)

Todd Bodine won the race, his third in a row, en route to third in the championship.

Musgrave also had the best quote from the Homestead weekend: "I thought I was a carbon copy of Mark Martin," Musgrave cracked, referring to Martins 19 seasons in the Cup series with four runner-ups and no titles.

Now, Musgrave is one up on Martin....until next year.

Nextel Cup Final Points:

1.� -- Tony Stewart, 2005 Champion. 2.� +2 Greg Biffle -35, 3.� -- Carl Edwards -35, 4.� +1 Mark Martin -105, 5.� -3 Jimmie Johnson -127, 6.� -- Ryan Newman -174, 7.� -- Matt Kenseth -181, 8.� -- Rusty Wallace -393, 9.� +1 Jeremy Mayfield -460, 10.� -1 Kurt Busch -559.

Busch Series Final Points:

1.� -- Martin Truex Jr. 2005 Champion.

With the announcement of Toyota leaving the IRL a year earlier than anticipated, scenes like Yasukawa and his Honda-powered car passing the Toyota-powered machine of Carpentier, are over. (Photo: Michael L. Levitt, USA. LAT Photographic)

2.� -- Clint Bowyer -68, 3.� -- Carl Edwards -336
4.� -- Reed Sorenson -484, 5.� -- Denny Hamlin -794, 6.� +1 Paul Menard -836, 7.� -1 Kenny Wallace -869, 8.� -- David Green -1029, 9.� -- Jason Keller -1071, 10.� -- Greg Biffle -1072.

Craftsman Truck Final Points:

1.� -- Ted Musgrave 2005 Champion. 2.� -- Dennis Setzer -55, 3.� -- Todd Bodine -73
4.� -- Ron Hornaday -166, 5.� -- Mike Skinner -262, 6.� -- Bobby Hamilton -371, 7.� -- David Starr -387, 8.� -- Jack Sprague -398, 9.� -- Matt Crafton -440, 10.� +3 Johnny Benson -459.

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