Before the Chase started, someone asked me who I thought could pose a threat to Jimmie Johnson’s bid for six straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships. I replied, “Tony Stewart.” Things were just too quiet surrounding him this year. There was something eerie about it. Even without winning a race in the first 26 races of the year, you looked at his history of winning and knew he was due. Well, so far he has proven to me and everyone else that he was due.
After winning the first two races in the Chase, Smoke leads the Sprint Cup Standings by seven over Kevin Harvick.
Stewart celebrates his win in New Hampshire.
But what’s been impressive is how he’s done it…by saving fuel and making it to the end when others cannot. Yeah, the argument is there that drivers can’t show off their talent when fuel mileage is a factor. Well, I disagree. It takes a certain skills to be able to save fuel like Stewart does.
The 2002 and 2005 Sprint Cup Series champion has drastically changed his luck in the last few weeks. Remember, this is a driver who after Michigan said that he didn’t think his car deserved to be in the Chase and take a spot from someone else.
Even after the win against New Hampshire, he looked more focused than ever, and almost appeared to not even celebrate the win. This is a great mentality because it shows us all how focused he and his team are about winning the title.
Stewart has always had a history of getting really hot in the summer months. He didn’t this year, but it’s almost a better time to start getting hot…in the playoffs! It should be fun to see what plays out at Dover. Smoke has won twice at this track before. Will his third win at the Monster Mile come on Sunday?