NASCAR: Winners And Losers From Sonoma
By Cole Mentzel
Winner: Tony Stewart
It was arguably the biggest moment of the season so far and one of the biggest of Tony Stewart’s career.
After he grabbed the lead on a late caution, Stewart continued to wheel his car around a familiar Sonoma track, holding off Martin Truex Jr and Denny Hamlin–until the final lap. Heading into Turn 7, Hamlin dove inside and took the lead, but Stewart came back in Turn 11, after Hamlin took a wide turn, and made contact before driving away and snapping an 84-race winless streak.
It was one of the classic finishes and certainly one reminiscent of Jeff Gordon’s final win at Martinsville last season, where everything lined up for a great win and a great finish.
Stewart still has to get into the top-30 in the driver standings to make the Chase, but as it stands right now, he sits in 32nd, which is nine points away from Brian Scott (30th).
must read: Results From Sonoma
This was one of those moments that NASCAR fans won’t forget as a veteran of the sport rallied to victory one hot summer afternoon. With his father crying tears of joy somewhere in the area, an exhausted Stewart climbed out of his car a winner and sat on the ground with relief, knowing that he had accomplished the hardest part of his journey to the Chase.