(WOMR file photo)
The last person not named Johnson to win the Sprint Cup championship won the championship again, as well as The Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday. Ten weeks ago Tony Stewart was not even considered a favorite to win a single Chase race, let alone the 2011 Sprint Cup championship. However, what his team was able to accomplish has never been done before since the Chase was established.
The Stewart-Haas Racing Office Depot/Mobil 1/Burger King #14 Chevy won 5 out of the 10 Chase races, including the very last race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In winning the last race, Stewart rallied to accumulate enough point to tie the Carl Edwards, who came into this race the points leader. The tie breaker for this ties went to Tony Stewart, since he had won more races during the season than had Edwards.
Tony Stewart knew there was only one way he could assure himself of a third career Sprint Cup championship in the days heading up to Sunday’s season-ending Ford 400 Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and that was to win the race. That is just exactly what he did!
Stewart is the first owner/driver to win the championship since Alan Kulwicki accomplished the feat back in 1992.
Recapping, to win the race Stewart had to overcome two lengthy pit stops to repair the hole in the grill that resulted from some debris that was kicked up and ran over by Stewart early in the race. All total, Stewart passed 76 cars on his marches from 40th and 38th place, respectively, en route to the lead!
Even though Edwards had a very fast race car on Sunday, it was Stewart who had THE faster, and more dominating, pony to ride at Homestead-Miami Speedway!
Check out the 2011 Sprint Cup Chase Championship points results.
