Using fortuitous pit strategy and defensive driving from the lead, Tony Stewart won today’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma. This was enough for Tony Stewart to get back on the Tony Stewart Bandwagon in his final season.
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| "Just keep me away from Ernie Irvan" |
“I’ll admit it—I wasn’t following Nascar as closely as I usually do, what with my driver running so poorly for the season so far”, Stewart said from victory lane. “But now that I have a win, I’m ready to be a fan of myself again, AND be a happy Nascar fan.”
Stewart has been a fan of himself since he entered the sport in the late-90’s, although his confidence in expressing this in public has waned since his last championship.
“The way we were able to hold off Denny Hamlin, man—that’s what I look for in a driver to root for”, Stewart explained. “You hate to see a guy just running around the back of the pack in his final year and ruin his legacy. Having waited so long for a win makes it all the more sweeter, and having waited so long for a win make it all the more sweeter for me as well.”
Stewart said that his focus will now turn to making the Chase for the Cup, although he is planning ahead for the future.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’m looking at some of the younger drivers to see who to follow in 2017”, Stewart said. “I mean, Chase Elliott looks like the real deal, but something just doesn’t feel right. Then again, it would be better than having to root for someone in a Ford.”