Adios, Ricky Rudd -- we eagerly await your return to the track. Credit: Autostock

Cross' Words: H'stead

So with the end of the 2005 season, I've come to some (obvious) conclusions:

• Jack Roush has won two of the past three Cup championships, and Joe Gibbs has three of the past six. But Roush is built for the longer haul. More cars will have that effect.

Inside the Chase Final point standings Rank Driver Pts. Behind 1. T. Stewart 6,533 -- 2. G. Biffle 6,498 -35 3. C. Edwards 6,498 -35 4. M. Martin 6,428 -105 5. J. Johnson 6,406 -127 6. R. Newman 6,359 -174 7. M. Kenseth 6,352 -181 8. R. Wallace 6,140 -393 9. J. Mayfield 6,073 -460 10. Ku. Busch 5,974 -559 • Race results, click here • Cup standings, click here Tony takes CupTony Stewart celebrates his 2005 Nextel Cup title Final lapsGreg Biffle and Mark Martin battle to the checkered flag Ford 400Highlights from the season-ending race via TrackPass Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

• Tony Stewart is a special driver -- the kind of driver generations of fans will talk about in revered tones. He's rough around the edges, which only enhances his bankability.

• Next year, Greg Biffle is poised to become the third Roush Racing driver to win the championship in his fourth full season. If he can beat back the challenge of Carl Edwards.

• If Mark Martin makes the Chase next year, there will not be a fan that won't root for him to win the championship. Maybe not openly, but no one is that black-hearted.

However, he does have a habit of finishing second every four years: 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 ... 2006?

• Jimmie Johnson is NASCAR's equivalent to the Chicago Cubs: Wait 'til next year.

• With seven wins in 24 starts, Ryan Newman is the epitome of Buschwhacker. Well, maybe not; Jack Roush is pretty damn adept at whacking Busch, too.

• Hello, I'm Matt Kenseth. Maybe you've heard of me -- 2003 Cup champion. ... Get this guy some commercial time with American Express.

• We'll miss Rusty Wallace much more than he'll miss the 36-race grind. That's a shame. Ditto Ricky Rudd.

• Kurt Busch should get a holiday card from Jeremy Mayfield: Season's Greetings -- from ninth place! If Homestead is any indication, Mayfield should be back in the Chase in '06, but that new color scheme is u-g-l-y.

• Any thoughts of Jeff Gordon reaching seven, or even eight, Cup championships are the ramblings of those looking through rose-colored glasses. Three words: too much competition.

• Jamie McMurray, you have some big ... er, shoes to fill in the No. 97.

• Elliott Sadler's season had too many M&Ms -- as in missed and muffed opportunities. Third in points after Sonoma and only 177 back, only to post an average finish of 24.3 in the 10 races leading to the Chase ... not good.

• What's up with RCR? Kevin Harvick's 14th-place finish in the points was the team's best effort. Jeff Burton was 18th; Dave Blaney was 26th. At least Richard Childress' wine is getting some attention.

• Welcome, Dale Jarrett, as the face of the old guard in NASCAR. No, Mark Martin is just the old face of the guard; call 'em "laugh lines," since he's now Mr. Optimistic.

• Joe Nemechek has improved his average finish in each of the past four years. At this rate, he'll qualify for the Chase in 2009 -- about the time the Army gets the call home from Iraq.

• He didn't make the Chase -- and NASCAR carried on. Does anyone still believe the sport is rigged for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s benefit? Yeah, I see a few hands in the back of the room ...

ALSO The best exchange from Championship Weekend at Homestead:  Mark Martin: "I turned over a new leaf. [SPEED analyst] Kenny Wallace said I was a pessimist after Charlotte, so I got mad. I'm so excited about coming back that I just can't stand it. I wish we were starting tomorrow and I'm gonna win. That's the new me."  Jeff Gordon: "It took Kenny Wallace for you to figure that out?"

• Generally speaking, Kyle Busch had a better year than his brother. Who saw that coming?

• Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, even Casey Mears, may be the fresh faces of NASCAR, but there is no substitute for experience. Their days will come -- soon.

• Today, the car of tomorrow is one day closer than it was yesterday. Curb your enthusiasm, please.

Flags

Nothing but kudos this week, from Tony Stewart to Chad Chaffin, for the 88 drivers who made the 2005 season what it was. Like Jimmy Dugan said: "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard ... is what makes it great."

Quote, Unquote

"This don't feel like the last race. That kind of sucks. I'm having a good time. I had a good time all year. I just wish we were racing some more. They ought to have races for no points at the end of each season. You know, like the Snowball Derby or something."
-- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Up Next

• Daytona, Feb. 19, 2006 -- mark your calendar.

Happy Holidaze

After nine months of nearly non-stop racing, it's time to take a break. So here's to you and yours during this holiday season. It'll be our first Thanksgiving with 7-month-old Reily, and she's thanks enough.

E-MAIL •   Send Duane your thoughts ...

Mail Call

Everybody knows the postman doesn't deliver on Thanksgiving. Send me your holiday wish list for NASCAR and we'll address those needs during the next few weeks.

Fantasy Perspective

It was a grueling finish, but in the end Roush Racing's dominance at 1.5-mile tracks paid off for you know who. Thanks to Marc Amazon, Bill Kimm and 790 The Ball listeners. ... And Amazon, you would have had to average 17.25 points per week over the final eight races to win. It wasn't gonna happen.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer.