HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Tony Stewart nearly wrote off his season during a summer slump, then dismissed his chances at the beginning of NASCAR’s championship chase.
Then something suddenly changed — with his cars, with his attitude, with his driving — and old Smoke was back.
With a vengeance.
Stewart thrust himself early into title contention, then never let up as he drove all over the competition and chased down Carl Edwards. He seized his third championship Sunday night with a powerful and relentless drive that will go down with the greatest in NASCAR history.
He won at Homestead-Miami Speedway, holding off Edwards for a tie in the final Sprint Cup Series standings — good enough to win the title based on his five victories. All of Stewart’s wins came in the Chase, and Edwards’ lone victory this season was in March. It was the first tie in the points standings in NASCAR history.
How good was Stewart, who drove from the back — twice! — and passed 118 cars during the race?
“I think Tony drove the best race of his life,” said A.J. Foyt, Stewart’s childhood idol.
The compliment nearly brought Stewart to tears.
“Not many people can hear your lifelong hero say that. Just really, really
Read More from the Article Source: Full Article
