Tony Stewart, pushed by Landon Cassill, edged Clint Bowyer for the win at the Nationwide Series 300 miler at Daytona International Speedway, on Saturday.
“Landon pushed and pushed and pushed and did a really good job,” said Stewart. “We got that momentum built. We never had to check up; we never were in a scenario at the end where we had to break that momentum.”
Stewart’s .007 second margin of victory was the closest in Nationwide history at the 2.5 mile, high-banked oval. This was Stewart’s fourth-straight season-opener victory and sixth of the last seven.
Bowyer had the lead at the restart with six laps to go. He explained: “I was worried about him snatching it from me, just not in that situation,” he said with a laugh.
“You know, when they got a run like that, it forces your hand to do something. Looking at the replay, I should have stayed up in front of him and I think I probably would have had it won.”
Both Stewart and Bowyer’s cars come from the Kevin Harvick Inc garage.
Cassill, who finished third in a James Finch owned Chevrolet, and doesn’t have a full-time ride, came into the race with virtually no experience in these cars on Superspeedways.
“Yeah, it was just a crazy day. We didn't draft at all in practice. I was worried about that 'cause I'd never done this actually; I've never done any drafting before in the Nationwide Series. It was kind of a learn on the fly deal.”
Danica Patrick, pushed by Bowyer, led some early laps and had her best performance in the Nationwide Series with a 14th position.
Ontario’s JR Fitzpatrick completed only 10 laps in the Baker Curb Ford. He finished 42nd.
“Landon pushed and pushed and pushed and did a really good job,” said Stewart. “We got that momentum built. We never had to check up; we never were in a scenario at the end where we had to break that momentum.”
Stewart’s .007 second margin of victory was the closest in Nationwide history at the 2.5 mile, high-banked oval. This was Stewart’s fourth-straight season-opener victory and sixth of the last seven.
Bowyer had the lead at the restart with six laps to go. He explained: “I was worried about him snatching it from me, just not in that situation,” he said with a laugh.
“You know, when they got a run like that, it forces your hand to do something. Looking at the replay, I should have stayed up in front of him and I think I probably would have had it won.”
Both Stewart and Bowyer’s cars come from the Kevin Harvick Inc garage.
Cassill, who finished third in a James Finch owned Chevrolet, and doesn’t have a full-time ride, came into the race with virtually no experience in these cars on Superspeedways.
“Yeah, it was just a crazy day. We didn't draft at all in practice. I was worried about that 'cause I'd never done this actually; I've never done any drafting before in the Nationwide Series. It was kind of a learn on the fly deal.”
Danica Patrick, pushed by Bowyer, led some early laps and had her best performance in the Nationwide Series with a 14th position.
Ontario’s JR Fitzpatrick completed only 10 laps in the Baker Curb Ford. He finished 42nd.