Stewart Takes First Career Talladega Win

Whether it was the threat of rain, Dario Franchitti's grinding wreck, or Kevin Lepage's horrendous move, Saturday's Nationwide Series Aaron's 312 was a fun ride all the way to Tony Stewart crossing under the checkers for his first time at Talladega Superspeedway.

Stewart, who led a race-high 80 laps from the pole, has never won at Talladega in either the Nationwide or Sprint Cup prior to Saturday's race.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. mounted a terrific challenge from second-place off of turn 2 on the last lap after hanging off of Stewart's bumper to get a run on the No. 20. Junior's No. 5 entry pulled alongside Stewart's Toyota on the backstretch, but the help Earnhardt Jr. had behind disappeared and Stewart pulled back in front.

Earnhardt Jr. finished 6th.

David Stremme grabbed second in the final lap shuffle with Bobby Hamilton Jr. third, Jason Leffler fourth, and Mark Green fifth.

Several of the races top contenders were taken out in the race's biggest crash with 47 laps to go after Kevin Lepage made a bonehead move coming off pit road, including Kyle Busch who was going for four wins in-a-row in the series.

Dario Franchitti is questionable as of now if he will start Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega after injuring his ankle during an early race crash.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-26-2008 @ 9:54PM

j91969 said...

Way to go Tony! You were awesome! Best of luck in the cup race tomorrow.

4-27-2008 @ 12:28AM

Don Emerson said...

Congrats to Tony, but I can't help but wonder how Toyota could have made so much progress in restrictor plate racing in such a short time without help from Nascar. For them to have an aero and engine package so strong this soon sure smells like a fix to me. When it comes to the Frances, it seems that money talks and integrity walks. Works for me....

4-27-2008 @ 2:57AM

Brad said...

Good Job Tony......

What the &^%$ DON now it's the Toyota package that brought Tony home First? I could swear I just read that YOU said Tony had peaked and was on the Down side of his career. And didn't I read YOU also stated the Tony would soon be using Past Champion Provisionals to get in races because of a lack of speed?.....Again nice Job Tony (OUTSIDE POLE)

2 more pathetic predictions from O-B-DON-THEPHONY

Aloha

4-27-2008 @ 8:50AM

SRF said...

I cringed when jr took the lead for the first time part way through the race. The commentators mentioned jrs last Nationwide (Busch) win was at MIS a few years back.

What they FORGOT to mention was the fact that he wrecked Carl Edwards in order to win that race. Matt Kenseth went on to win the Cup race the next day!!!

Jr is a whiny ass cry baby that can only win races by wrecking other drivers!!! If he never wins another race for the rest of his career, it will be to soon. And how long will his racing career go on if he can't when a race?

Congrats to Tony for a great win. I hope to see the Gibbs Toyota's and RoushFenway Ford's leading the pack on Sunday!!!

4-27-2008 @ 10:16AM

jennifer said...

way to go Tony....you are the best....keep up the good racing....good luck in the Sprint race Sunday...

4-27-2008 @ 10:30AM

Gayle said...

I'm sorry to say-Jr is not the crybaby. Tony Stewart is! He's all happy go lucky when he gets his way and acts like a 2 year old when he doesn't! I truly hope he (Tony) gets a dose of his own medicine today at 'Dega. All you Tony fans forget that he has been known to take out his teammate (Bobby Labonte) for wins??? Hmmm-didn't think so. To me, that's not a true racer-someone who can race clean, is.

4-27-2008 @ 10:55PM

Bernie said...

I think Tony should thank Lepage for causing a wreck that took out the 18 car. His team mate Kyle Busch would have been in the mix at the end of that race had he not been removed from the track by that Kevin Lewhatever. The DLP 18 was not very good but KB has proven he can drive anything to the front.

Congrates to Kyle Busch for the DEGA cup win!

4-28-2008 @ 1:22AM

Brad...you need to lay off the joy juice and maybe not sniff the lava fumes anymore. Obviously it has affected what you once called your mind. I wonder, at your age, have you been tested for dementia ? Tony won the race, but he has peaked as a driver and his skills are diminishing ala father time. If you look at the past races in the last 2 years, you will see that Tony has made more ontrack mistakes during this period than he did in all the previous years put together. Now put on your Depends, grab a new box of crayons and go play in the sand like a good boy. Works for me......

4-28-2008 @ 11:53AM

Oh Poor Poor O-B-DON-THEPHONY,
If anyone should be tested for dementia it would be you Don because it it oh so obvious with your rants that you can't remember what you wrote so you flip-flop back and forth so much your loosin it. Speaking of flip-floppin you probably have 2 sets of attire (MALE AND FEMALE) because I'm sure you can't decide who you are some mornings. So just take it easy today Don, just take one of your little play toys..stick it where the sun don't shine ( I'm sure that works for ya ) and head down to the local welfare office to search for your next Ex. I see from the other blog that you where at the Race yesterday.....good for you......but I was unaware that the SHORT BUSES picked up and delivered to Nascar Races......mmmmmm learn something new everyday........well some of us anyway!!!

Aloha, Brad

5-08-2008 @ 10:26PM

The said...

Tony Stewart is a douchebag! He is a rude and arrogant. Yeah Tony yell at some more 8 year olds if it makes you feel like a man-he just wanted your autograph.....