No Wins at Darlington? No Problem.

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – race tracks tt NASCAR Nationwide Series NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visits we Tony Stewart doesn’t win.  fact, there’s – Las Vegas Motor Speedway Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

Coming 2008 season, double, Stewart hadn’t won Auto Club Speedway Fontana, Calif., Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.  thanks stout No. 20 Toyota prepared Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nationwide Series crew chief Dave Rogers, Stewart whipped field Fontana Talladega effectively scratch tracks “to-do” list.

And 2008 Nationwide Series season back-to-back wins Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Fontana, Stewart race season Las Vegas ready history.

No driver won ft Nationwide Series races season, Stewart, wh wins belt, primed record td Las Vegas.  No. 20 Spice Toyota led twice 61 laps, Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch crashed wn flat tire sent wall, or driver close matching pace set Stewart.  accident wh lapped car lap 137 202-lap race sent Stewart hard SAFER Barrier outside retaining wall, eg shot three-peat trip Las Vegas’ victory lane.

After finishing 10th Nationwide Series race Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Stewart Talladega duplicated effort forth season-opening race Daytona.  won pole won race, career-firsts Stewart racing division Talladega.

With rematch Las Vegas available ul March 2009, oy track left Stewart conquer 2008 Darlington, site Friday night’s Diamond Hill Plywood 200.

Stewart me fr Nationwide Series starts Darlington, finish seventh, recorded yr wn drove Kevin Harvick Inc.  Sprint Cup, Stewart’s result fourth – notched twice – 15 career races.

So, win Darlington seemingly imminent Stewart?

Well, Joe Gibbs Racing fielding Stewart’s No. 20 Spice Toyota Nationwide Series race, Joe Gibbs Racing won Nationwide Series races seven 11 Nationwide Series races run ts season leading 1,027 1,918 laps (53.5 percent).  Oh, No. 20 team two-time reigning champion Diamond Hill Plywood 200, hg swept pole race ys we leading combined 117 laps.

Pardon Stewart fs dual No. 20 Spice Toyota Darlington.  Apparently, wins races, serves gigantic Sharpie checkmark items “to-do” list.

Tony Stewart – Driver, No. 20 Spice NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota Camry Darlington
How mh he yr strong runs Nationwide Series served confidence booster wt you’re trying accomplish Sprint Cup Series?

“It’s huge, especially you’re hg bad weekend Sprint Cup side.  It’s easy start questioning what’s gg on.  run Nationwide car, helps confidence driver.  driver doesn’t confidence io Cup race, takes lot front.  We’ve cars ee we’ve Nationwide side.  We’ve cars Cup side.  it’s little bit off, you’ve tt gd day Nationwide side, confidence tt boost nt day.”

Since Darlington bn repaved, wl running bh Nationwide Series race Sprint Cup race benefit weekend? Be there’s correlation bn cars, extra track time prove worthwhile?

“If eg gg wh cars it’s cluster, yeah, it’s opportunity.  it’s cluster, tn it’s bad opportunity running bh series.  potentially learn wt track’s characteristics balance car change th course race.  advantage week.”

Given ft don’t worry points, competing Nationwide Series running NASCAR purest form – you’re te win?

“You’re sl racing ps team.  team’s gg run ey race, th you’re bd steering wheel race, it’s go-for-broke attitude.  You’re pt racing.  behalf, team’s behalf.  Tt sl te pride in.  winning, it’s sl personal goal driver win, doesn’t change matter you’re driving.  it’s jt team that’s running part-time schedule, tn wh go-for-broke attitude.  we’ve team tt obviously finished sd yr shot win ts year.  wt race conscious tt time you’re car them.”

Why win Darlington feather driver’s cap?

“Darlington tough track handle day.  pavement, pavement – don’t tk matters.  don’t lot guys lot success there.  oy handful guys religiously run there.  Tt jt difficult Darlington handle on.  gd day win there, it’s track that’s winning Bristol (Tenn.).  It’s se type feeling – knowing conquered that’s hard obtain.”

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