Stewart Takes Lead

By Dylan Webster
Three events into NASCAR’s “Chase for the Championship,” Tony Stewart has regained the series lead. With only seven races remaining, Stewart and Ryan Newman have separated themselves from the rest of the leaders. Newman trails Stewart by only four points, however, third place Rusty Wallace is 75 points behind the leader. Jimmie Johnson is 82 points back and Greg Biffle is 98 behind.

The remaining five drivers are all 100 or more points behind the leader. While everyone is still very much in the thick of the chase, Stewart’s rebound at Talladega last weekend has to be a concern to the rest of the competition.

During the 36 race “regular season,” Stewart was enjoying a storybook-like year. All of the luck broke his way. Curiously however, in the first two championship races he looked as though he had peaked too early. That came to an end Sunday with a strong second place showing at the UAW-Ford 500. He also earned 10 bonus points by not only leading a lap, but also leading the most laps.

Also of note are Jimmie Johnson, who looked strong in the first two races but fell with a 31st place finish, and Kurt Busch who, although finished a respectable eighth, is mired in 10th place, 180 points out of the lead.