NASCAR: Tony Stewart’s Five Most Significant Wins

Number 1: Homestead-Miami Speedway – November 20, 2011 – Ford 400

Significance: Wins Championship On Tie-Breaker, Dominates Chase

Commentary: Stewart’s win in the season-finale in 2011 was significant not just because it is a NASCAR moment that won’t soon be forgotten, but is in many minds one of sport’s all-time championship-winning moments as well.

As recently as one month before the start of the 2011 Chase, Stewart declared that his team was not even good enough to be in the Chase following a race at Michigan. Just over a month later, Stewart embarked on a Chase that would see him win four of the Chase’s first nine races, setting up an epic battle with Carl Edwards in the last race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Going into the race, the task was simple.  Win, and you’re the Sprint Cup champion. Stewart did so, with Edwards finishing second, and the two drivers found themselves TIED in points following 36 races. Stewart won the championship on a tie-breaker… the victory gave him five for the year (all in the Chase,) and one more than Edwards’ four.

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The race was also notable because it was the last time a carburator was used on a Cup car, as electronic fuel injection came along in 2012. This event also marked the final nail in the coffin for Kurt Busch at Penske Racing, as his now-famous, profanity-laden tirade towards ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch was captured by a fan’s cell phone video and used to terminate his employment.