Photo Credit: Sal Sigala Jr.
Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Code Associates Mobil 1 Chevrolet, broke an 84 race windless streak with a thrilling win at Sonoma Raceway for the Toyota Save/Mart 350.
The Columbus, Indiana native qualified 10th and for most of the race stayed in the top-15. He pitted on Lap 86 and then caution flew two laps later for debris.
“Even I we finished 16th or 17th where we were running before, when mike (Bugarewicz) made the call to come in on the pit stop, I had fun all day, and that was our goal,” he said. “We struggled all day on Friday and all four of our cars kind of fought the same problem, and I still don’t know what it is, but we fought it. Felt like the first two runs of the day we were respectable, and then it seemed like guys got better, and I couldn’t match the pace anymore and the harder I ran it the more I made my problem worse.
“It was a matter of – I think Mike and I either way thought 17th was – that’s just kind of where we were and that’s kind of where we were speed-wise, I think, at that time.”
Stewart acquired the lead after the leaders came in for pit stops during the caution. The race would go back green on Lap 91 and the Stewart-Haas driver/owner held off Denny Hamlin till the last lap. Hamlin passed Stewart on the final lap when Stewart wheel hopped in Turn 7.
“When Denny got back ahead of Martin(Truex Jr.), the laps were winding down and he’s gaining ground in a hurry,” he said. “It’s use everything you’ve got. If I left anything on the table and ran second and felt like I left anything out there, I was going to be a miserable A-hole and the rest of the ride home, too. I would have got it on both ends.
“I was vulnerable in 7. I needed to be able to adjust my brakes for 7 and then make a different adjustment on my brakes for Turn 11. To reach off the steering wheel and make an adjustment sometimes is a distraction, and I felt like I could manage it, and when I made that mistake coming to the white, that’s what set up that whole last lap.”
Stewart took back over the lead in Turn 11, diving underneath Hamlin when he wheel hopped and went wide, and crossing the finish line first when the checkered flags flew.
“You know somebody else asked because I was thinking more of my guys than me,” he said. “I’m excited for Mike to get his first win and proud that I could get him a win before the end of the year. Excited for this team. My guys have been through this whole disastrous roller coaster the last three or four years and never backed down.
“They’ve never quit on me. There’s days I’ve quit on myself and they’re the guys that send you text messages and call you when you get home like hey, this isn’t over. I’m proud for them, and it meant more for me to get it for them than myself.”
Stewart is now one step closer to making the Chase for the Sprint Cup with this win, as to qualify with the chase waiver he needed to be 30th or higher in the standing with a win. As of the standings after Sonoma, he is now nine points out of the 30th position.
“I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to myself ,he said. “I’m happy doing what I’m doing. I’m still happy about my decision to make the change I’m making next year, but after Jeff(Gordon) set the bar pretty high last year winning a race in the clutch to get to the last race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, just to be able to be in the Chase, if we can make it– I mean, we’re still not out of the woods yet.
“We still got work to do, and Daytona International Speedway next week can be –we’re nine out right now. We can be 39 out by the time we leave Daytona, so there’s a lot that can happen still. But I’m proud of where we are.
“For two guys, for a brand new crew chief and driver combination, didn’t get a chance to work with each other until the ninth or tenth race, I feel like we’re gaining ground here, and I’m proud of those guys. I’m really proud of what they’re doing.”
