Stewart Finishes Seventh At Darlington for KHI

Racing at the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway is as competitive as it gets and one mistake can cost a driver dearly, as many found out at the Diamond Hill Plywood 200. After qualifying 17th for Friday night’s race, Tony Stewart knew it was going to take some work if he wanted to put the No. 33 Old Spice Body Spray Chevrolet into Victory Lane. Once the green flag dropped over the 43-car field, the Columbus, Indiana native, quickly worked his way inside the top-10, but a late race incident with Ryan Newman caused Stewart to make an unscheduled pit stop to repair the damage. The Old Spice pit crew was able to make repairs to the No. 33 Chevrolet and kept him on the lead lap in the 36th position. From the restart, Stewart was on the move towards the front of the field, passing 29 cars to finish seventh.At the drop of the green flag, Stewart began to methodically work his candy apple red machine through the field. When the first of 10 caution flags flew on lap 22, Stewart had already moved into the top-10. “The car is too tight for me right now,” radioed Stewart to his crew during the caution.

Crew chief Dan Stillman called for a track-bar adjustment, four tires and fuel. The Old Spice pit crew did their job in the pits, returning the No. 33 machine to the track in the 10th position for the restart. With the necessary changes made to the car, Stewart moved into the eighth spot and then surged into sixth place on lap 42. Another caution waved on lap 52, when NASCAR Officials spotted debris on the track. During the caution, crew chief Dan Stillman, working a different pit strategy, ordered the No. 33 Chevrolet down pit road for four tires and fuel. With 20 cars staying out during the caution, Stewart had to restart in the 26th position.

From the restart, Stewart wasted little time pushing the Old Spice Body Spray Chevrolet inside the top-20. With track position at a premium and passing extremely difficult, it looked as though Stewart was poised for a strong run. However, on lap 64, Stewart radioed the crew that Newman had made heavy contact with the right side of the car. One lap later, the caution flag flew, which gave the crew and spotter the opportunity to survey the damage. Stillman, who could see the damage to the right side of the car via the ESPN broadcast, summoned Stewart down pit road to pull out the right front fender. “I don’t want to take a chance of the right front fender rubbing the tire,” said Stillman. “We have a very good car and enough laps to get back up front.”

Already frustrated by the situation, Stewart would have to come down pit road for the much needed repairs. After fixing the damage, the No. 33 Old Spice Body Spray Chevrolet restarted in the 36th position. “Let’s get one position back at a time since there are 70 laps remaining,” radioed Stewart. Over the next thirty laps, Stewart found a racing groove on the 1.366-mile oval and moved back into the top-10 for the final time.

Five more cautions kept the racing close and would ultimately give Stewart a shot at another great finish after he passed Greg Biffle for seventh. With two laps remaining, Stewart had his sights set on NEXTEL Cup regular Clint Bowyer for sixth, but ran out of laps, crossing the start/finish line in the seventh position.

“Guys, I just want to let you know how proud I am of you tonight,” said Stewart after the race. “This is the best car I have ever driven here at Darlington. It was so fast all night and I want to thank you again.”

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