Daytona-Sized Dose of Disappointment for Stewart

It there… roughly mile – checkered flag 50th running Daytona 500. Tony Stewart poised it.

The driver No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) lead season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race oy laps remaining, held spot tn dn 3,000-ft. backstretch 2.5-mile oval. run outside Stewart Penske Racing teammates Ryan Newman Kurt Busch heading io proved strong.

Even JGR teammate Kyle Busch pushing finish line, Stewart hold run subsequent 1-2 punch Penske teammates running line. momentum carried tm th fr tn low line run Stewart Kyle, eh thwart efforts JGR duo.

Newman crossed stripe .092 ahead teammate, Stewart Kyle stuck tr te td fourth, respectively.

“It’s pretty tough I’m happy fm td lt lap Daytona 500,” Stewart, Daytona 500 finish remains 2004. “I jt wrong decision backstretch tried dn ft Kyle. push dn there, No. 2 (Kurt Busch) glued No. 12 (Ryan Newman).

“I don’t kw could’ve stopped tm anyway, would’ve changed lanes, tk would’ve ed le bunch guys – wrecked. reality hindsight, I’m probably gg lot happier tomorrow. It’s hard explain. It’s probably disappointing moments racing career.”

Stewart’s impending disappointment bn wn caution flag waved lap 195 debris. ensuing restart, Stewart slotted wh Jeff Burton Kyle second. Kyle Stewart split Burton’s No. 31 car, wh Kyle gg low Stewart gg high. Running line propelled Stewart io lead ahead Newman, Kyle Kurt heading io final lap.

But Penske lineup Newman Kurt connected, head steam, ty powered tr outside entering tn three, unfortunately, wasn’t cool dn lap Daytona 499.

“Those guys head steam,” sd Kyle Penske tandem. “They ahead restart. lagged tn push. NASCAR rulebook, that’s right, go. Jt frustrating ce home fourth, that’s Daytona 500.’

Despite disappointing outcome, Daytona 500 incredibly strong outing JGR manufacturer partner, Toyota. Kyle literally led pacing 43-car field et times race-high 86 laps. Fellow JGR driver Denny Hamlin led fe times 32 laps, second-highest tally day. Stewart led fr times 16 laps, td ht total race. all, JGR drivers led 134 200 laps available (67 percent).

Stewart’s third-place result, Kyle’s fourth-place finish Hamlin’s 17th-place effort – result te separate incidents tt roughed contours car’s sheet metal – drivers third, fourth 16th, respectively, championship standings.

Newman’s Daytona 500 victory ft Sprint Cup triumph se won Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon Sept. 19, 2005, 81-race race winless streak. virtue win, series pt leader.

Finishing fifth Reed Sorenson, we Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne, Robby Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle comprised remainder top-10.

-JGR- 

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