For the past few months Tony Stewart didn’t appear to be making headlines. He did keep his head down and quietly made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
With a resounding win at the Sunday night race at Atlanta that quiet time appears over.
After running behind Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson; Stewart took the lead on a restart on lap 301 and rocketed to his 38th win, but, first win in 31 races.
“Over the last two months we’ve kind of been silent, but we’re gaining on it,” said Stewart, who had run a string of six-straight races with finishes of 16th or worse.
With the Chase starting in two weeks he may just be ready to shout as he aims for a third Cup title.
He explained how his team has made the turnaround “it's been a lot of little steps in the last ten to 12 races, I would say, that nobody's really noticed it, but we have noticed it internally. It's a much better feeling right now this time of year than it was a year ago.”
Tony Stewart explained the key to his first win of the year, “it was that last pit stop that got us the track position to give me the opportunity," Stewart said. "When I got back in traffic I was in really bad shape."
Carl Edwards, also looking for his first win in a long time and with an on the Chase, said “that was fun. Tony just had such a fast car there at the end, but we’re back. We’re doing it. We’re scoring more points than anybody.”
Jimmie Johnson’s streak of bad luck seems to have ended with his third place. “To get a good race here, to be in that moment and to feel the pressure, is something we needed," Johnson said. "That pressure is fun to have and it was a familiar excitement inside of me, and I was excited to be out there racing with everybody and being a part of it.”
Denny Hamlin, the surprise pole winner who led 74 laps retired on lap 143 with due to engine problems.
Stewart, who led a race-high 176 laps added “I’ve never been so happy to win a race in my life. It’s been awhile. I forgot what it was like, it’s been so long. I don’t know how many races it’s been, but it seems like an eternity since we won a race.”
Patrick Carpentier, of Joliette, Quebec finished 28th.
With a resounding win at the Sunday night race at Atlanta that quiet time appears over.
After running behind Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson; Stewart took the lead on a restart on lap 301 and rocketed to his 38th win, but, first win in 31 races.
“Over the last two months we’ve kind of been silent, but we’re gaining on it,” said Stewart, who had run a string of six-straight races with finishes of 16th or worse.
With the Chase starting in two weeks he may just be ready to shout as he aims for a third Cup title.
He explained how his team has made the turnaround “it's been a lot of little steps in the last ten to 12 races, I would say, that nobody's really noticed it, but we have noticed it internally. It's a much better feeling right now this time of year than it was a year ago.”
Tony Stewart explained the key to his first win of the year, “it was that last pit stop that got us the track position to give me the opportunity," Stewart said. "When I got back in traffic I was in really bad shape."
Carl Edwards, also looking for his first win in a long time and with an on the Chase, said “that was fun. Tony just had such a fast car there at the end, but we’re back. We’re doing it. We’re scoring more points than anybody.”
Jimmie Johnson’s streak of bad luck seems to have ended with his third place. “To get a good race here, to be in that moment and to feel the pressure, is something we needed," Johnson said. "That pressure is fun to have and it was a familiar excitement inside of me, and I was excited to be out there racing with everybody and being a part of it.”
Denny Hamlin, the surprise pole winner who led 74 laps retired on lap 143 with due to engine problems.
Stewart, who led a race-high 176 laps added “I’ve never been so happy to win a race in my life. It’s been awhile. I forgot what it was like, it’s been so long. I don’t know how many races it’s been, but it seems like an eternity since we won a race.”
Patrick Carpentier, of Joliette, Quebec finished 28th.