Tony Stewart/Old Spice Pre-Race Report: Darlington

LOOKING FOR SIX STRAIGHT:
Tony Stewart will be looking for six straight top-10 finishes for Kevin Harvick Inc., (KHI) dating back to the Michigan International Speedway in 2006. Stewart’s last race for KHI came three weeks ago at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway where Stewart finished runner up to KHI teammate and race winner Bobby Labonte.

71 AND COUNTING:
When Tony Stewart climbs behind the wheel of the No. 33 Old Spice Chevrolet for this weekend’s race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, he will be making his 71st start in the NASCAR Busch Series. He has compiled two wins, 17 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes to go along with four poles.

STEWART PULLING DOUBLE-DUTY:
Tony Stewart will pull double-duty for the sixth time this season. Stewart will compete in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 Busch Series event on Friday with Kevin Harvick Inc. and the Dodge Avenger 500 Cup Series race on Saturday with Joe Gibbs Racing.

THIS RACE, ONE YEAR AGO:
Stewart, who started from the ninth position, lead 12 laps early in the event and competed inside the top four positions most of the night. A tangle with a lapped car near the end of the race sent Stewart’s No. 33 into the wall, resulting in damage to the Dollar General stores machine. The Dollar General stores crew was able to make repairs to Stewart’s Chevrolet and kept him on the lead lap for a 29th-place finish.

TWO OF THE TEN:
Kevin Harvick Inc., (KHI) has both Busch Series cars inside the top-10 in the NASCAR Busch Series Owner’s point standings for the first time this season. The No. 33 KHI Chevrolet is currently seventh in the standings, while the No. 77 machine is 10th. Tony Stewart will pilot the No. 33 Old Spice Chevrolet this weekend and Bobby Labonte will steer the No. 77 Dollar General stores Chevrolet. The last time these two were behind the wheel for KHI they finished first and second at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Tony Stewart Quotes:

Why is Darlington considered a driver’s track?
“It’s a driver’s track because you have to take care of your tires and you have to move around on the race track. You have to do things on the race track to help your car out because very rarely do you get a car that’s absolutely perfect at Darlington.”

What makes Darlington such a tough race track?
“The surface is just worn out, and it’s been worn out for years. Plus, it’s like racing down an alley. It’s not a very wide race track. And the speeds that we run there make racing very difficult. There’s little room for error because of how close you run to the wall.”

Is Darlington the one track on the Busch Series circuit where you feel you have to work the hardest?
“It’s one of the tracks where we seem to work the hardest. The way the tires wear down and as narrow as the track is – it’s hard to pass. So, you’ve got to get your car driving well to be able to pass. You don’t want to use up your tires too early in a run. It’s definitely one of the harder tracks on the circuit, but there are a lot of hard tracks on our schedule.”

Dan Stillman On Darlington Raceway:
“The track’s nickname says it all, the “Lady in Black,” which is “To Tough to Tame.” That track can sneak up on you and make for a long night. We are taking the same car from Atlanta, which has a new rear-end and should be good. Anytime you have Mr. Stewart piloting your race car it is a good thing.”

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