updated 5: 43 a.m. ET 11 October 2010 in FONTANA, California-Tony Stewart was the only way to work on his way back from a large hole to start the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship was to chip away. He took a small step in the last week by finishing fourth in Kansas and took a huge one in a place where he had never won before. Stewart vaulted five spots in Chase standings by pulling away from the points leader Jimmie Johnson at a late restart Sunday to win on the Auto Club Speedway for the first time in 19 career starts. Stewart still 107 points back in Chase, but it is much better than when he was just a day before. "The last two weeks have been great in the direction," Stewart after move from 5th to 10th. "It is not a guarantee that we can stay at this pace and have these guys lose points for us, but we are headed in the right direction." "Smoke" received his prize, but Johnson may be ready to smoke the field again. The four-time defending the Sprint Cup champion had made his now-anticipated Surge to the top of the Chase standings, with the help of a gain of Dover and a second place finish last week at the Kansas after a bad qualifying session to move former Denny Hamlin. This, we have slightly different feel, however, the aura of invincibility has gone from No. 48 after an atypical loosen season. Nine drivers was before 101 points after Kansas, makes it one of the toughest years Johnson has faced during his Cup after Cup run. Still, he had won four of his previous six starts at the Fontana, including previous three fall races and started a solid eighth Sunday, while many of them chasing him had problems in qualifying Friday. Five of the first six spots on the grid was nabbed by non-Chasers and only Matt Kenseth (third) and Greg Biffle (seventh) was in the top 10. After a day of moving — some forward, some back — by the majority of the Chasers, Johnson was there again back in front in a position to win. He did not expect to be able to catch the Stewart Clint Bowyer, or hold the pole, but still finished third to push his points lead to 36 of Hamlin with six races left. "Great day of Manager, "Johnson said. "We certainly would be in Victory Lane, but if can finish in the top three in and week out, you will have a shot. Stewart would let him come to inspectors in California. Not after all the battles, he has had was there. Stewart a good back in the Chase after running out of fuel at the same time the lead late in the Loudon and fighting in Dover. He had a good showing last week at the Kansas, finishing fourth, but still entered this weekend 10th in the points, 127 behind Johnson. (a) qualified halvdårlige run Friday had him starts the 22nd, but Stewart worked quickly to the front page in the path of a lead-swapping 400-mile race, who served as the end date falls on the Fontana. He was fifth in the race the midpoint, took the lead with 51 laps left and winded it back after a short behind Juan Pablo Montoya In the lead again. late, Stewart elected not to pit after an accident took out Chase driver Kurt Busch and dragged away from Johnson on Restart with two rounds left. Bowyer passed Johnson, but nowhere close to Stewart at the end, finally, "Smoke" his wins in California and improve his once-weak Chase chances. "We do everything we can, "said Stewart, which moves up to fifth in the Chase, 107 points behind Johnson. "We're going to need some help, but we are doing everything we can do. I am proud of these guys and just so grateful. "Bowyer had a fixed day in his first race without suspended crew chief Shane Wilson. elk hunting Bowyer was when NASCAR maintained his team 150-point penalty and scrolled Wilson's suspension from six to four years of not checking after the New Hampshire race. California marked the beginning of Wilson's suspension. With Scott Miller requires pit shots, Bowyer worked his way from 13th starting position and ended up leading four separate times for 40 laps. He fell back late, but done another charge passes Johnson on the last lap of the second. "I was really concerned about this great struggle without my crew chief, but Scott Miller and all filled well, "says Bowyer, still 12th in the points, 247 points from opportunity. He was not the only Chase driver Kevin Harvick rally. moved from a bad qualifying session to finished seventh and remain third in the Chase. Hamlin, was eighth after starting on the back of the pack is attributed to a new transmission. Jeff Gordon overcame a late speeding penalty on pit road finished ninth and move up to fourth. It file handling, a good day for several other Chase drivers. Kyle Busch, Biffle and Carl Edwards had all their chances dented at the engine of the riots, and Kenseth finished a disappointing d. 30. Kurt Busch was also knocked out of a late crash and finished 21st. None of the drivers is closer than 140 points after the disastrous results. "It shows how quickly things can change out there, "said Kurt Busch. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Stewart WINS, while Johnson pads lead at Fontana
updated 5: 43 a.m. ET 11 October 2010 in FONTANA, California-Tony Stewart was the only way to work on his way back from a large hole to start the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship was to chip away. He took a small step in the last week by finishing fourth in Kansas and took a huge one in a place where he had never won before. Stewart vaulted five spots in Chase standings by pulling away from the points leader Jimmie Johnson at a late restart Sunday to win on the Auto Club Speedway for the first time in 19 career starts. Stewart still 107 points back in Chase, but it is much better than when he was just a day before. "The last two weeks have been great in the direction," Stewart after move from 5th to 10th. "It is not a guarantee that we can stay at this pace and have these guys lose points for us, but we are headed in the right direction." "Smoke" received his prize, but Johnson may be ready to smoke the field again. The four-time defending the Sprint Cup champion had made his now-anticipated Surge to the top of the Chase standings, with the help of a gain of Dover and a second place finish last week at the Kansas after a bad qualifying session to move former Denny Hamlin. This, we have slightly different feel, however, the aura of invincibility has gone from No. 48 after an atypical loosen season. Nine drivers was before 101 points after Kansas, makes it one of the toughest years Johnson has faced during his Cup after Cup run. Still, he had won four of his previous six starts at the Fontana, including previous three fall races and started a solid eighth Sunday, while many of them chasing him had problems in qualifying Friday. Five of the first six spots on the grid was nabbed by non-Chasers and only Matt Kenseth (third) and Greg Biffle (seventh) was in the top 10. After a day of moving — some forward, some back — by the majority of the Chasers, Johnson was there again back in front in a position to win. He did not expect to be able to catch the Stewart Clint Bowyer, or hold the pole, but still finished third to push his points lead to 36 of Hamlin with six races left. "Great day of Manager, "Johnson said. "We certainly would be in Victory Lane, but if can finish in the top three in and week out, you will have a shot. Stewart would let him come to inspectors in California. Not after all the battles, he has had was there. Stewart a good back in the Chase after running out of fuel at the same time the lead late in the Loudon and fighting in Dover. He had a good showing last week at the Kansas, finishing fourth, but still entered this weekend 10th in the points, 127 behind Johnson. (a) qualified halvdårlige run Friday had him starts the 22nd, but Stewart worked quickly to the front page in the path of a lead-swapping 400-mile race, who served as the end date falls on the Fontana. He was fifth in the race the midpoint, took the lead with 51 laps left and winded it back after a short behind Juan Pablo Montoya In the lead again. late, Stewart elected not to pit after an accident took out Chase driver Kurt Busch and dragged away from Johnson on Restart with two rounds left. Bowyer passed Johnson, but nowhere close to Stewart at the end, finally, "Smoke" his wins in California and improve his once-weak Chase chances. "We do everything we can, "said Stewart, which moves up to fifth in the Chase, 107 points behind Johnson. "We're going to need some help, but we are doing everything we can do. I am proud of these guys and just so grateful. "Bowyer had a fixed day in his first race without suspended crew chief Shane Wilson. elk hunting Bowyer was when NASCAR maintained his team 150-point penalty and scrolled Wilson's suspension from six to four years of not checking after the New Hampshire race. California marked the beginning of Wilson's suspension. With Scott Miller requires pit shots, Bowyer worked his way from 13th starting position and ended up leading four separate times for 40 laps. He fell back late, but done another charge passes Johnson on the last lap of the second. "I was really concerned about this great struggle without my crew chief, but Scott Miller and all filled well, "says Bowyer, still 12th in the points, 247 points from opportunity. He was not the only Chase driver Kevin Harvick rally. moved from a bad qualifying session to finished seventh and remain third in the Chase. Hamlin, was eighth after starting on the back of the pack is attributed to a new transmission. Jeff Gordon overcame a late speeding penalty on pit road finished ninth and move up to fourth. It file handling, a good day for several other Chase drivers. Kyle Busch, Biffle and Carl Edwards had all their chances dented at the engine of the riots, and Kenseth finished a disappointing d. 30. Kurt Busch was also knocked out of a late crash and finished 21st. None of the drivers is closer than 140 points after the disastrous results. "It shows how quickly things can change out there, "said Kurt Busch. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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