For the fifth time in six years, Tony Stewart ended up in the victory circle after the NASCAR Nationwide season opener at Daytona, the NASCAR Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 on Saturday.
Stewart’s Oreo/Ritz Cracker Chevrolet ran strong all day, keeping ahead of the pack and ahead of the two multi-car accidents that sidelined half the field.
Stewart took the lead for the last time on lap 96 and held off charges by Justin Allgaier, Kevin Harvick, and Carl Edwards three-tenths of second ahead of his pursuers.
Stewart said he was not surprised to win again, because he always had great machinery.
“This Oreo/Ritz Cracker Chevy was awesome,” he said after the race. “This is really because of Kevin and Delana Harvick [owners of KHI Racing, who built the car] always give us great race cars, every time, so no I’m not surprised, just glad we’re here again.”
When asked how hard it was to hold off the repeated attacks in the final laps, Stewart responded, “You know they’re not going to just sit there and ride, and stay where they’re at. Everybody’s going t o try to win it, so you just got to have an idea how much longer you’ve got to do what you’re doing.”
Stewart started in 32nd place, but by lap 29 was in seventh, leading a six-car mini-pack in pursuit of the leading group of six cars, led by Kevin Harvick. Ten laps later he was in fourth, and charging. By lap 65 he was in the lead, and he was never far out of it for the rest of the race.
Stewart’s Oreo/Ritz Cracker Chevrolet ran strong all day, keeping ahead of the pack and ahead of the two multi-car accidents that sidelined half the field.
Stewart took the lead for the last time on lap 96 and held off charges by Justin Allgaier, Kevin Harvick, and Carl Edwards three-tenths of second ahead of his pursuers.
Stewart said he was not surprised to win again, because he always had great machinery.
“This Oreo/Ritz Cracker Chevy was awesome,” he said after the race. “This is really because of Kevin and Delana Harvick [owners of KHI Racing, who built the car] always give us great race cars, every time, so no I’m not surprised, just glad we’re here again.”
When asked how hard it was to hold off the repeated attacks in the final laps, Stewart responded, “You know they’re not going to just sit there and ride, and stay where they’re at. Everybody’s going t o try to win it, so you just got to have an idea how much longer you’ve got to do what you’re doing.”
Stewart started in 32nd place, but by lap 29 was in seventh, leading a six-car mini-pack in pursuit of the leading group of six cars, led by Kevin Harvick. Ten laps later he was in fourth, and charging. By lap 65 he was in the lead, and he was never far out of it for the rest of the race.
