Tony Stewart Chicagoland Busch Race Recap
I missed the race and almost missed this release from Kevin Harvick Inc.
Tony Stewart came into Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Chicagoland (Ill.) Speedway as one of the race favorites, and while he came up just short of a first-place finish, the effort was remarkable nonetheless. Using the same car that carried him to a third-place finish earlier this year at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, Stewart found his No. 33 Old Spice Chevrolet to be a handful. Throughout the 200-lap event, Stewart and his crew battled through minor pit road incidents, an ill-handling race car and the extreme summer heat, before crossing the finish line in the eight position. With his eighth top-10 finish of the year, Stewart keeps the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet in contention for the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Owner’s Point Championship. The team currently sits in the fifth position, 210 points behind the fourth-place car owner Richard Childress and the No. 21 Chevrolet.
After starting 22nd, Stewart promptly started his march to the front of the 43-car field. During the first 30 laps, the No. 33 Old Spice Chevrolet was hitting its mark on the low line passing cars like there were only a few laps remaining, before settling just outside the top-10, in the 11th position. “The car is too tight for me right now,” radioed Stewart.
The Columbus, Indiana native, worked his way up to the third spot, before being summoned to pit road on lap 63, for the first scheduled green flag pit stop of the afternoon. Crew chief Dan Stillman called for one round up on the track bar, four tires and fuel. The Old Spice pit crew did their job in the pits, returning the No. 33 machine to the track. Once the green flag pit stops were complete, Stewart cycled around into the ninth position. With the necessary changes made to the car, Stewart moved into the seventh position at the midway point of the race.
Long green flag runs allowed the race leaders to lap the majority of the field. On lap 115, only 14 cars remained on the lead lap. “I need to be tighter because the car is way too loose. Let’s go back on the track bar if possible,” radioed Stewart. Despite being loose, the No. 33 Old Spice Chevrolet was making ground on the leaders. While running in the seventh position, Brett Sherman crashed in turn three, bringing out the fourth caution flag on lap 145. Knowing that this could be the last round of pit stops, Stillman ordered Stewart to pit road. With all the lead lap cars pitting, the Old Spice crew changed four tires and filled the car with fuel, but the stop took considerably longer than expected, when a lug nut fell off trying to secure the right rear tire. This pit road dilemma caused Stewart to restart in the 14th position, with only 50 laps remaining. “It’s alright guys, we have enough time to get back to the front of the field,” radioed Stewart.
With a still dominant car underneath him, Stewart systematically worked his way through traffic. By lap 165 he had passed Kasey Khane, Dave Blaney and teammate Bobby Labonte to claim the 10th spot. Continuing his charge to the front, Stewart forced his way to the sixth position with a lap 174 pass of Stephen Leicht before setting his sights on the top-five.
Over the final 25 laps, the top-five cars would pull away from the field, leaving Stewart to fend off Paul Menard, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch, which all pitted for fresh tires during the final caution. Stewart, who opted to stay out and gain track position, worked hard to hold off Menard, Edwards and Busch, but eventually fell back, crossing the start/finish line in the eighth spot.
KHI team co-owner, Kevin Harvick went on to win his third Busch Series race of the year, while maintaining the second position in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings, despite missing five races already this season.
<