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.