Chevy Driver Tony Stewart Wins at Sonoma Raceway in Final Season

Tony Stewart’s victory in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 produced two compelling storylines for the rest of the NASCAR season.

“Going into Turn 11, I was 100-percent sure that Denny was not going to win just by watching it, and we were right there on the cusp of trying to sneak one by”, Logano said. “I feel like we’re gaining ground here, and I’m proud of [my] guys”. “He’s treated me really well my entire career”. However, this win could be a jump start for him, a psychological boost of sorts after all the tragedy he’s endured physically and emotionally the past three seasons. Hamlin was able to rub Stewart and take the lead on the last lap, but in the last turn of the last lap, Stewart returned the favor and retook the lead. Stewart returned to competition three races later, but was clearly rattled by the tragedy. “[He] was the one that made that call, and then for the caution to come out on our out lap, it was a flawless scenario for us and gave us the opportunity”. “I got the rear (tires) hot, wheel-hopped it a little big again, got out of line and obviously gave him the inside line”. He took it well, and even leaned into Stewart’s window afterward to offer congratulations.

Tony Stewart out battled Denny Hamlin to regain the lead in the final few turns at Sonoma Raceway and won in dramatic fashion.

The driver noted it himself in a pre-race interview with Fox Sports, when he said after his retirement in November – in the wake of Jeff Gordon’s retirement a year ago – there would be no one left in the sport that was willing to take a stand. It would be really hard to listen to him next year (does Bowyer impression). “At the end of the day, we only won because of his desire and his drive and his want”.

Since his 2013 victory at Dover win, Stewart had posted just seven top fives and 10 top-10 finishes with three different crew chiefs calling the shots. Once I knew he had position and we had a wall on the other side of us, that I knew, pretty good chance, that we were going to go into it.

“I thought, whatever it was, 25 to go, we were coming”, Allmendinger said.

In Turn, Stewart capitalized on what he knew was his final chance to win the race, and pushed Hamlin out of the corner from the inside, taking the lead and finally took his first win in years. Many folks like me assumed this weekend would bring a wild-card victor into the mix because of the road course dynamics. Imposing, assertive, but always with at least a nod towards the racer’s code. Hamlin led a contest high 33 laps and was the fastest vehicle in the closing moments.

“Looking in the rearview more than looking out front”, Hamlin said.

“I mean, we’re still not out of the woods yet”. Then, we got it back. “We just need to be up there at the end, and we weren’t”. I’m so happy for Stewart this morning. He knows what it means. Stewart dive-bombed Hamlin and sent him into the wall and drove on to take the checkered flag.

“I’m starting the season with a new crew chief that I hadn’t worked with”, Stewart said Sunday after he snapped an 84-race winless streak with a Sonoma Raceway victory.

He complained about young drivers, snarked that NASCAR will be without any tough guys once he retires and grumbled he has no fun driving a Cup auto anymore.