Who is the only NASCAR driver to win a Cup Series title without a playoff win? Exploring how the legend etched the undisputed feat

In the era of NASCAR playoffs, there was only one driver who did not win any of the playoff races but, in the end, ended up winning the championship. He was the former NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, who claimed the Cup Series title in 2005 despite having no wins in the playoffs.

NASCAR started the playoffs format in 2004, and in the very next year, Stewart scripted history by winning the title despite having no wins in the entire playoff rounds. He claimed the championship ahead of Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards.

The 2005 Cup Series was the 57th season of professional stock car racing and the 34th season in the modern-era Cup Series. Stewart was thoroughly dominant this season as he racked up five victories on his way to the playoffs.

In the process, he amassed an enormous 209-point lead over his nearest rival, Biffle. However, points were reset going into the Chase for the Cup, and the point difference has dropped to just five. Despite this, Stewart managed to hold his nerve, be consistent, and in the end, win the 2005 Cup Series season.

Stewart, who was driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished the season with 6533 points, ahead of the Roush Racing duo of Biffle and Edwards. Both Roush Racing drivers ended the year with an identical 6498 points.

As years changed, so did NASCAR's playoff rules. But no other drivers managed to match the feat former driver Tony Stewart managed to record. The Columbus-born driver picked three titles during his career as a Cup Series driver, and the 2005 title was his second.

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Tony Stewart's NASCAR career in a nutshell

Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Chevrole, poses for photos with the trophy after winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series - Source: Getty Images

Anthony Wayne Stewart, popularly known as Tony Stewart, was born on May 20, 1971, in Columbus, Indiana. He was exposed to racing at a very young age, and raced his first at go-karts in 1979, at just eight years old. He was very successful at a very young age and made it to stock car racing with ease.

The current 53-year-old former driver entered the three NASCAR national series with Truck (1996 Cummins 200) and Xfinity (Goody's Headache Powder 300) Series races in 1996. Three years later, he made his debut in the Cup Series at the 1999 Daytona 500.

Stewart took part in six Truck Series races in nine years, winning two of them, and taking five Top 10s. His Xfinity Series career boasts 11 wins, six pole positions, and 41 Top 10s in 94 races in over 18 years.

However, the co-owner of the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing is extremely renowned for his Cup Series valiance. Stewart took part in 618 Cup Series races in over 18 years, where he claimed three championships, 49 wins, 15 pole positions, and 308 Top 10s.