Joe Gibbs Racing - Finally, ‘The Big One’ for Stewart at Talladega

Talladega (JGR) - Sometimes, life worth waiting for. It’s old, worn-out cliché, nearly worn-out mind Tony Stewart, tireless unfruitful efforts win NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway 19 previous visits 2.66-mile tri-oval. Stewart flirted victory numerous occasions wh ng – count ’em, – runner-up finishes.

Until Sunday, is, Stewart, driver No. 20 Subway/Home Depot Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), managed avoid pair huge superspeedway-style “big wrecks” furious challenge green-white-checker finish score victory AMP Energy 500 ft career Sprint Cup win Talladega.

Ironically, Stewart’s No. 20 Toyota car checkered flag today, Regan Smith No. 01 Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) venture yellow out-of-bounds line complete inside pass Stewart beat finish line – NASCAR no-no Talladega sent Smith bk lead-lap finishers 18th-place final standings ge Stewart 33rd career Sprint Cup victory season.

“It’s tg victory lane, Talladega – ts fr hadn’t won Cup race at, talk at win. I’ve win he long,” Stewart said. “I he my friends dn he – Red Farmer Donnie Allison. fans, man, there’s (Home Depot) orange there. hasn’t bn favorite ps fan side. People haven’t as liked here. te guys stands today.”

Stewart Sprint Cup Series-record 28 lap leaders 190-lap event. held separate occasions, albeit briefly employing conservative strategy or ft 450 miles. Stewart moved io lead gd pass Juan Pablo Montoya lap 174 – race’s biggest multi-car accident triggered rear bumper lap 175. Tt one, featuring fellow Chase Sprint Cup contender Carl Edwards, 12 cars brought race’s red-flag stoppage.

“We tried careful ft pt day,” Stewart, oy career victory Talladega ce NASCAR Nationwide Series race April. “When Jeff Gordon point, trying push mh (the engine) hot, jt bk off. jt patient ul lt half race, finally position stay front.

“This drove awesome day. jt matter running guys. 6 (David Ragan) good, 17 (Matt Kenseth), 31 (Jeff Burton) – we cars gd pushing jt glad tt finally Subway Home Depot haven’t mh luck ts year.”

After lap-179 restart, Stewart No. 20 Toyota little trouble keeping challengers him. Smith, fact, hefty gap rest field Smith pushing Stewart along. final debris caution lap 186, however, brought field an set stage green-white-checker finish. Again, Stewart able ride low line kp ee bd him, Smith, me last, valiant effort coming checkered flag.

“Just don’t gap bd knew, wh te DEI cars me, tough hold on,” Stewart said. “We push fm Regan (Smith) backstretch, there. able stay bumper, able stay there, wasn’t ay tt gg able us. fm gap run. jt try protect end.

“I tt oe th tt (green-white-checker) lap right. backstretch bumper, wh plan, hoping there. he stayed (turn) th frontstretch, tn te tt cd us. gap te tn tt run jt protect line. hate that, win he Talladega, wreck field win Talladega, finally.”

Stewart’s JGR teammates – Kyle Busch Denny Hamlin – finished 15th 39th, respectively, AMP Energy 500.

Finishing .052 Stewart runner-up slot Paul Menard, collected career-best Sprint Cup result. Ragan finished third, we Burton Clint Bowyer rounded top-five. Bobby Labonte, Scott Riggs, Robby Gordon, Jimmie Johnson Elliott Sadler comprised remainder top-10.

There 10 caution periods 41 laps – including red-flag stoppages total 29 minutes, 12 clean multi-car accidents – 16 drivers failing finish 190-lap race, extended laps past scheduled 188-lap distance green-white-checkered finish.

All JGR drivers represented year’s Chase Sprint Cup. Stewart leads JGR trio points, victory moved spots seventh, 203 markers arrears series leader Johnson. Busch gained position 11th standings, 331 ps lead. Hamlin dropped spots 12th 335 ps bd Johnson.

With races remaining champion crowned following season-finale Nov. 16 Homestead-Miami Speedway, top-12 drivers competing title follows:

1. Jimmie Johnson (5,718 points) +/- 0
2. Carl Edwards (5,646 points, -72) +/- 0
3. Greg Biffle (5,641 points, -77) +/- 0
4. Jeff Burton (5,619 points, -99) +/- 0
5. Clint Bowyer (5,566 points, -152) +2
6. Kevin Harvick (5,547 points, -171) – 1
7. Tony Stewart (5,515 points, -203) +4
8. Jeff Gordon (5,486 points, -232) -2
9. Matt Kenseth (5,473 points, -245) +/- 0
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5,469 points, -249) -2
11. Kyle Busch (5,387 points, -331) +1
12. Denny Hamlin (5,383 points, -335) -2

The event Sprint Cup schedule – halfway mark 10-race Chase Sprint Cup – Oct. 11 Bank America 500 Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, N.C. race begins 7:25 p.m. EDT live, high-definition coverage provided ABC beginning pre-race 7 p.m. race ao broadcast live SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 128.