Full Throttle

Tony Stewart missed his Moose Lodge 398 meeting in Columbus, Indiana Sunday afternoon. Lodge member Dale Moss surveyed the parking lot on Washington Street but didn’t see the shiny Hummer that signals the lodge’s highest-profile member would not be playing cards.

Instead Tony Stewart, Daytona 500 winner, NASCAR Champion, [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/irl.png]IndyCar[/avatar] champion and Moose Lodge 398 member had a date with his personal destiny and the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/allstate.gif]Allstate 400[/avatar] at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Like many dates, it ended with a first kiss, a “[avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/bricks.jpg]kiss of the Bricks[/avatar].”

Stewart spent the first 100 laps of the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/allstate.gif]Allstate 400[/avatar] keeping the sheet metal straight and working on the car. Then took command with 60 laps to go to capture his boyhood dream and end nine years of frustration and heartbreak on the track he calls his “Holy Grail.” It wasn’t his beloved Indy 500 but it’s doubtful the trophy will be returned anytime soon. The victory was Stewart’s fourth of the season and 23rd of his Nextel Cup career.

“If I died right now, my life would be complete,” said a tired but happy Stewart.

In addition to the win Stewart also took over the points lead from Jimmie Johnson, who saw the end of his miserable weekend with a late crash and a trip to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for precautionary evaluation. He was later released.

Reigning Rookie of the Year Kasey Kahne didn’t make it easy (and put an explanation point on his contract extention), passing Stewart for the lead with 27 laps left. After Jimmie Johnson’s wreck on lap 144, brought out the last of nine [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/caution.jpg]caution[/avatar] flags in the race, Stewart took advantage of the restart to regain the lead and the win. Kahne, looking for his second win this year finished second. Brian Vickers, Jeremy Mayfield and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five.

Four time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon failed in his bid to become the first 5 time Indianapolis winner but aided his climb back into Chase contention by finishing in 8^th position. He now trails tenth place Carl Edwards by 87 points.

NOTE: The image featured at the top of this post is in honor of Purple Heart Day. Sunday, Aug. 7 is recognized as Purple Heart Day as a tribute to Soldiers who have received the Purple Heart. An image of the medal was featured on the U.S. Army Chevrolet driven by Joe Nemechek in the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/allstate.gif]Allstate 400[/avatar].

Nemechek’s U.S. Army Chevrolet was one of the top running cars in the early going, but his day was quickly ruined when the left-front tire blew on Lap 58. The tire incident, which sent Nemechek from eighth to 41st in track position, was so severe that it tore off the left-front fender of the #01 car. He finished the day in 28^th place.

1. (22) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 160, $554,661.
2. (4) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 160, $371,875.
3. (5) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 160, $289,850.
4. (2) Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 160, $274,945.
5. (20) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 160, $266,411.
6. (40) Casey Mears, Dodge, 160, $225,508.
7. (10) Mark Martin, Ford, 160, $198,490.
8. (7) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 160, $223,436.
9. (8) Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 160, $201,908.
10. (16) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 160, $196,050.
11. (12) Mike Bliss, Chevrolet, 160, $168,950.
12. (38) Carl Edwards, Ford, 160, $172,425.
13. (28) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 160, $169,983.
14. (24) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 160, $187,333.
15. (15) Jeff Green, Dodge, 160, $181,561.
16. (3) Michael Waltrip, Chevrolet, 160, $179,739.
17. (23) Jamie McMurray, Dodge, 160, $156,900.
18. (37) Kurt Busch, Ford, 160, $206,825.
19. (14) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 160, $190,336.
20. (29) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 160, $174,195.
21. (31) Greg Biffle, Ford, 160, $159,400.
22. (11) Ken Schrader, Dodge, 160, $143,705.
23. (33) Bill Elliott, Dodge, 160, $140,330.
24. (13) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, 160, $141,980.
25. (41) Rusty Wallace, Dodge, 160, $171,513.
26. (26) Scott Wimmer, Dodge, 160, $162,283.
27. (35) Bobby Hamilton, Dodge, 160, $135,325.
28. (19) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 160, $156,633.
29. (34) Mike Skinner, Dodge, 160, $133,825.
30. (30) Dave Blaney, Chevrolet, 160, $144,305.
31. (32) Boris Said, Chevrolet, 160, $132,800.
32. (1) Elliott Sadler, Ford, 159, $198,896.
33. (18) Jason Leffler, Chevrolet, 159, $133,000.
34. (6) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 158, $177,496.
35. (21) Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, 152, $149,047.
36. (43) Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, 151, handling, $132,200.
37. (39) Travis Kvapil, Dodge, 146, $139,315.
38. (42) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 143, accident, $179,626.
39. (25) Bobby Hamilton Jr., Chevrolet, 119, $131,080.
40. (36) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, 116, accident, $165,575.
41. (9) Ricky Rudd, Ford, 73, accident, $158,109.
42. (17) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 62, accident, $130,790.
43. (27) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 62, accident, $178,444.

Time of Race: 3 hours, 22 minutes, 3 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 0.794 Seconds.
Winner’s Average Speed: 118.782 mph.
Caution Flags: 10 for 43 laps.
Lead Changes: 15 among 10 drivers.
Lap Leaders: E.Sadler 1-22; R.Gordon 23; E.Sadler 24-39; B.Vickers 40-50; M.Kenseth 51-59; C.Mears 60-69; K.Kahne 70-92; E.Sadler 93; K.Petty 94; T.Labonte 95-96; B.Vickers 97-99; T.Stewart 100-117; S.Wimmer 118; T.Stewart 119-133; K.Kahne 134-149; T.Stewart 150-160.
Point Standings: 1. T.Stewart, 2,923. 2. J.Johnson, 2,848. 3. G.Biffle, 2,812. 4. R.Wallace, 2,705. 5. Kurt Busch, 2,646. 6. M.Martin, 2,636. 7. R.Newman, 2,568. 8. J.Mayfield, 2,554. 9. D.Jarrett, 2,493. 10. C.Edwards, 2,487.