pandr
09-19-2011, 10:10 PM
Tony Stewart smokes the Chicagoland field
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
Monday, Sep. 19, 2011
Chicagoland Spint Cup 09.19.11
Unofficial order of finish
JOLIET, Ill. - Tony Stewart has impeccable timing.
Stewart earned his first Sprint Cup victory of the year at just the right time, in the first race of the Chase for the Cup.
Stewart stretched his gas to hold off Kevin Harvick to win Monday’s rain-delayed GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third, Carl Edwards was fourth and Brad Kewselowski was fifth.
Harvick now leads the Cup series standings.
Pole-winner Matt Kenseth took control early, leading the first 32 laps of the race until NASCAR threw a competition caution to allow teams to check their tires. Rain on Sunday has washed a great deal of rubber off the track.
Kurt Busch passed his brother Kyle for the lead on Lap 41 and led the next 63 laps before Carl Edwards ran him down to move into the top spot.
On Lap 110, Jeff Gordon was forced to pit under green as his team believed he had a right-front tire going down. Teams began a round of green-flag pit stops on Lap 177. Once they were completed, Edwards remained in the lead, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch.
Debris brought out the third caution of the race on Lap 145 and all the lead lap cars pit for fuel and tires. Ryan Newman took over the lead on Lap 151 thanks to a two-tire pit stop, followed by Edwards, Johnson and Stewart. It was 11 laps later, Johnson moved into the lead.
Jamie McMurray lost the engine in his car on Lap 164 to bring out the fourth caution. Gordon returned to the lead lap and Keselowski elected not to pit, taking over the lead on Lap 169.
Before one lap was completed, Johnson made his way around Keselowski to retake the lead.
With 200 of 267 laps completed, Johnson led the way, followed by Stewart and Kenseth.
JJ Yeley wrecked on Lap 205 to bring out a caution on Lap 205. All of the lead lap cars elected to pit again, with Kenseth coming off pit road first followed by Stewart and Newman.
Stewart quickly made his way around Kenseth for the lead on the restart.
Debris again brought out a caution on Lap 213 and all lead lap cars elected to pit except for Martin Truex Jr., who stayed out to take the lead on the restart on Lap 218. Kenseth lined up second and Stewart third.
Ten laps later, Kenseth passed Truex for the lead. Ten later after that, Stewart took the lead after working Kenseth for several laps.
Truex was forced to pit for fuel on Lap 254.
With 10 laps left, Stewart remained in the lead, hoping to make his fuel stretch the distance.
C/P Thats Racin
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
Monday, Sep. 19, 2011
Chicagoland Spint Cup 09.19.11
Unofficial order of finish
JOLIET, Ill. - Tony Stewart has impeccable timing.
Stewart earned his first Sprint Cup victory of the year at just the right time, in the first race of the Chase for the Cup.
Stewart stretched his gas to hold off Kevin Harvick to win Monday’s rain-delayed GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third, Carl Edwards was fourth and Brad Kewselowski was fifth.
Harvick now leads the Cup series standings.
Pole-winner Matt Kenseth took control early, leading the first 32 laps of the race until NASCAR threw a competition caution to allow teams to check their tires. Rain on Sunday has washed a great deal of rubber off the track.
Kurt Busch passed his brother Kyle for the lead on Lap 41 and led the next 63 laps before Carl Edwards ran him down to move into the top spot.
On Lap 110, Jeff Gordon was forced to pit under green as his team believed he had a right-front tire going down. Teams began a round of green-flag pit stops on Lap 177. Once they were completed, Edwards remained in the lead, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch.
Debris brought out the third caution of the race on Lap 145 and all the lead lap cars pit for fuel and tires. Ryan Newman took over the lead on Lap 151 thanks to a two-tire pit stop, followed by Edwards, Johnson and Stewart. It was 11 laps later, Johnson moved into the lead.
Jamie McMurray lost the engine in his car on Lap 164 to bring out the fourth caution. Gordon returned to the lead lap and Keselowski elected not to pit, taking over the lead on Lap 169.
Before one lap was completed, Johnson made his way around Keselowski to retake the lead.
With 200 of 267 laps completed, Johnson led the way, followed by Stewart and Kenseth.
JJ Yeley wrecked on Lap 205 to bring out a caution on Lap 205. All of the lead lap cars elected to pit again, with Kenseth coming off pit road first followed by Stewart and Newman.
Stewart quickly made his way around Kenseth for the lead on the restart.
Debris again brought out a caution on Lap 213 and all lead lap cars elected to pit except for Martin Truex Jr., who stayed out to take the lead on the restart on Lap 218. Kenseth lined up second and Stewart third.
Ten laps later, Kenseth passed Truex for the lead. Ten later after that, Stewart took the lead after working Kenseth for several laps.
Truex was forced to pit for fuel on Lap 254.
With 10 laps left, Stewart remained in the lead, hoping to make his fuel stretch the distance.
C/P Thats Racin