Fireworks, Used-up Race Cars and Smoke
The 51st annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola produced a thrilling finish as Tony Stewart captured his third career win in the mid-summer classic at Daytona International Speedway.
With the checkered flag in sight, Stewart, running second, attempted to pass leader Kyle Busch. Busch’s #18 and Stewart’s #14 Chevrolet made contact and Busch spun into the outside wall in the tri-oval.
The victory was Stewart’s third in July in the last five years and his 14th overall win at “The World Center of Racing.”
Stewart started on the pole after qualifying was rained out and the field was set according to point standings. He stayed near the front of the field all evening with the help of quick pit stops and led a race-high nine times for 86 of the 160 laps.
The Indiana native has now led 345 laps in the summer contest, the most of any active driver and sixth on the all-time list. The win also marked the second time Stewart has won the race from the pole, the most times of any driver.
“We had a strong car for sure,” said Stewart, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader. “It was nice to be able to drive away in a line up front and get away from the crowd in the back.”
“I don’t know if I’m real proud of that, but I don’t know what else I could have done,” Stewart said. “You’re forced to that position. I got to his right-rear tire; he went to block and I was already there. He was doing what he had to do; I was doing what I had to do.
“I feel bad about this. If it’s my fault, I’m sorry. I wanted him to have a good day, but I wasn’t going to give it to him.”
Kyle Busch, driver of the Interstate Batteries Toyota, crashes into the wall on the final lap as he crosses the finish line and Kasey Kahne, driver of the #9 Budweiser Dodge, crashes into the back of him during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Hamlin, who seemed to have one of the strongest cars from the drop of the green flag, picked up his first top-10 finish in a points race at “The World Center of Racing”.
“Yeah, I don’t know how to finish in the top 10 here,” said Hamlin who led six times for 63 laps. “I can run up front for 95 percent of the time but can’t finish. I don’t think I’ve ever had a car this strong on a superspeedway. I’m proud of our whole team.”
Defending Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth kept his #17 Ford in the top 10 throughout the night and finished eighth.
Were it not for trouble to most of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup “bubble” drivers, Mark Martin’s postseason aspirations might have suffered a significant setback, thanks to a wreck on Lap 13 that relegated him to a 38th-place finish.
As Martin exited Turn 2, Matt Kenseth gained momentum to the outside, and Martin’s Chevy wasn’t clear of Kenseth’s Ford when Martin moved up the track. Martin’s car spun into the infield and sustained serious damage.
“Matt ran the top side there and got a run up off the corner, and I was just trying to keep it down and leave us room, and I just pinched him,” Martin said. “Front wheels were cut, and it just didn’t turn quite enough. My fault.”
I actually saw the end of this one live, and it’s a good thing Kyle ran off and kept his mouth shut. He caused it and lost, Tony may not even have had the horses to complete the pass but Kyle was attempting his second block in the last stretch of the race.
Maybe he can blame his spotter, because it’s never Kyles fault, is it???
Kyle didn’t have too much choice in keeping his yap shut considering the mandated ride to the infield crash house.
On the other hand his crew chief handled all the post race comments that took place long after he left it.