UNREMARKABLE? You could say that about NASCAR 2005 as a whole, but not about champion Tony Stewart.(Special Report)

Byline: AL PEARCE

Brian Z. France stood before hundreds of guests at a New York luncheon in late November and proclaimed 2005 "a remarkable year'' for NASCAR.

Off-track? Well... yeah. But on-track the second season with Nextel backing was no more or less remarkable than the previous 20-some years of NASCAR's modern era. Of course, when you're a France and you're picking up the tab, you can say whatever you want.

Even so.

There were only four truly memorable finishes in 36 races: Carl Edwards over Jimmie Johnson at Atlanta in March, Johnson over Bobby Labonte at Charlotte in May, Dale Jarrett over Tony Stewart at Talladega in October, then Greg Biffle over Mark Martin at Homestead in November. Eleven races were won by at least 1.5 seconds, a lifetime. Eight races went into overtime, three ended under caution. The average Cup race had 20 lead changes among 11 drivers and 10 cautions for 50 laps.

Nothing remarkable about those numbers.

Sixteen drivers won poles and 15 won races. Roush Racing combined for 15 wins among Biffle (six), Edwards (four), Kurt Busch (three) and Matt Kenseth and Martin (one each). Hendrick Motor-sports got 10 wins from John- son and Jeff Gordon (four each) and runaway rookie-of-the-year Kyle Busch (two). Evernham Motorsports got single wins from Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield, Robert Yates Racing got one from Jarrett, and Richard Childress Racing got one from Kevin Harvick.