Hey everyone, it’s your boy coming at you again with another one of my wild rides. Today, I’m diving deep into the “tony stewart 2005 watkins glen” race. Now, I’ve been a huge fan of NASCAR for years, and this race, man, it’s one for the books.
So, picture this: it’s August 14, 2005, and we’re at Watkins Glen International. This place, known as “The Glen,” is a legendary track down at the southern tip of Seneca Lake in New York. The hype is real, with a massive crowd of 85,000 people buzzing with excitement. It was supposed to be the 22nd race of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, and the 20th time they ran this event.
I remember waking up that morning, super pumped for the race. But guess what? Mother Nature had other plans. The original schedule had two practice sessions. However, the rain was coming down hard, and “Happy Hour” practice got canceled. So, we only got one practice session that weekend. It was a bummer, but hey, that’s racing.
Moving on to the qualifying. This was set for Saturday, August 13, at 11:10 AM. Each driver gets two laps to set their fastest time, and whichever lap is quicker becomes their official time. But, as if the rain during practice wasn’t enough, it started pouring again during qualifying. They had to red-flag it because the conditions were just too crazy. I was glued to my screen, watching all this unfold.
Now, let’s talk about Tony Stewart, or “Smoke” as we all love to call him. This guy is a beast on the track. Going into this race, he was already killing it, winning five out of the last seven races. And Watkins Glen? He owned it. He won the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen the previous year, making it his fifth road-course win in five years. The man was on fire!
I was rooting for Stewart, no doubt. But even I was surprised by how he started the race. He admitted later he knew he was in trouble shortly after it began. Despite that, he pulled off a dominant performance. It was like watching a master at work. Every turn, every move, he was just in a league of his own.
The race itself was a nail-biter. There were some intense moments, but Stewart kept his cool and dominated. He won that race, securing his second consecutive win at The Glen. It was his sixth win on a road course and his fourth at The Glen. I mean, this guy’s record is insane. He even won the non-points Gatorade Duel Cup Series race at Daytona earlier that year. Talk about a legend!
What makes Stewart even more impressive is his versatility. In 2001, he became the first driver to finish on the lead lap of both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. That’s 1,100 miles of racing in one day! He is one of the best drivers for sure!
- Wins at Watkins Glen: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007
- Second win at Chicagoland
- Second win at Indianapolis
- Sixth win on a road course
Personal Life Highlights
Off the track, Stewart’s life is just as exciting. He married Leah Pruett in 2021, and they’re starting a family. They announced they were expecting in June 2024, and their son, Dominic James, was born on November 17. It’s awesome to see him balance his racing career with his personal life.
Watching Tony Stewart’s performance at the 2005 Watkins Glen race was unforgettable. He really is the king of Watkins Glen, and that race solidified his status as one of the greatest. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and check out the highlights. You won’t be disappointed.
That’s it for this post, folks. Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane as much as I did. Stay tuned for more racing stories, and as always, keep it real!
