NASCAR Gives Tony Stewart Talladega Win

Rookie driver Regan Smith crossed the start/finish line in first place at the end of Sunday's Amp Energy Drink 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, but it was Tony Stewart who was celebrating his first 2008 Sprint Cup series win in victory lane.

NASCAR awarded Stewart the win after the powers-that-be decided that Smith's move under Stewart as the field came through the tri-oval for the final time was illegal.

For Stewart, it was the best of times as he celebrated a win at a track he's never won at in Sprint Cup competition despite finishing second six times at the track, but for Smith, it was a heartbreaking defeat that left him with plenty of questions -- as well as everyone that watched the race.

Smith got a run on Stewart as they came to the checkered flag of the 188-lap race, faked high, then dove low under Stewart. Stewart chopped down, made contact with Smith, and sent Smith's No. 01 Dale Earnhardt Inc. car under the yellow line that NASCAR has determined is out-of-bounds at Talladega.

The move didn't stop Smith's momentum and he drove by Stewart's No. 20 Toyota to cross the line first -- presumably scoring the biggest upset of a win in years for NASCAR's top division.

But it wasn't to be, and Smith was scored after the race as the first car one lap down in 18th position thanks to NASCAR penalizing him for trying for the win.

The controversial finish will likely be debated for much of the coming week, and I'd expect Dale Earnhardt Inc. to file an appeal of the finish -- though it's hard to win an appeal against a sport that officiates its races on Sunday and runs the business side of it on Monday.

The rest of the 500-miler's Top-5 finishers included -- or Top-6 depending on if Smith's penalty holds -- Paul Menard, David Ragan, Jeff Burton, and Clint Bowyer.

The ending, though, was fitting for a long, crazy day at the Alabama track known for its big wrecks and close finishes after two wrecks each collected over 10 cars -- including many contenders for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Point leader Jimmie Johnson, Stewart, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer appeared to leave the wild card track as the least unscathed of the championship contenders.

Johnson still holds on to the point lead in the Chase by some 68 points over Carl Edwards and 73 over Greg Biffle -- both of whom were caught up in a big wreck with 14 laps to go. Jeff Burton remained fourth and Clint Bowyer jumped two spots to 5th.

Stewart's win catapulted the No. 20 four spots to 7th in the standings, though he's still 199 points from the lead.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-05-2008 @ 7:45PM

w lyons said...

the worst part of the Nascar world is Nascar. They are rule happy and play the part of the gastapo very well. They are killing the golden goose, slowly but surely.

10-06-2008 @ 5:00AM

roadhouse said...

Well Nascar has just set a nasty precedent. From now on, there will be certain drivers that will easily just knock someone out of the way at Dega and Daytona since it's perfectly legal to force someone below the yellow line to win. Smith should have been declared the winner. I am glad that Stewart was able to get a victory in his last year at Gibbs, but that was a B.S. call by Nascar. Man what a precedence. We are going to see some very ugly finishes at restrictor plate races from now on. The Big One will probably be at the finish line from now on.

10-06-2008 @ 6:14AM

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10-06-2008 @ 10:52AM

Shellie said...

OK was any one else watching the same race as I was, there really wasn't any room for Smith to start with so I guess Stewart should have went oh no better give him a little room and really if the shoe was on the other foot do you think Smith would have given Stewart the room??????
So funny how people just like to make something more than it is, you can not pass while under the yellow line!!!! There’s a reason for this rule........know what it is...........under the yellow line is not considered part of the racing surface!!!!

10-06-2008 @ 1:47PM

Nancy said...

Let me ask you this.... if the person was Dale jr. would you still be upset with the results?

10-06-2008 @ 4:02PM

Mike LeVan said...

Very fitting title to the article Geoffrey.
MBL

10-06-2008 @ 5:47PM

DEBRA said...

NASCAR DID NOT GIVE TONY THE WIN-HE EARNED IT FAIR AND SQUARE.SOUND LIKE SMITH IS THE CRYBABY HERE. HE NEEDS TO GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON LIKE TONY DID WHEN IT HAPPENED TO HIM.GREAT JOB TONY!

10-06-2008 @ 6:05PM

Brad said...

Sorry Shellie but that dog just won't hunt,

the yellow line rule only applies to Daytona and Dega, you can go below the yellow line on every other track and you can also finish the race on the infield grass as long as your past the start finish line.

Regan got black flagged for passing under the yellow line that's why his finish was the last car on the lead lap, you can also be black flagged for forcing someone below the yellow line thus once again Helton and Nascar are blind in one eye and can't see out of the other as they determined Tony didn't force Regan anywhere. JMO

10-06-2008 @ 10:33PM

take a good look at the replay, did smith have the line or not, his front wheel wasn't even at tonys rear wheel before he went below the yellow, so he did not have the line, did he or did he not pass under the yellow line? It was a good call

10-06-2008 @ 11:43PM

Shellie I totally disagree. If Tony didn't force him down, I don't know what replay you have been watching.

I am ready for Brewton to start his own racing series. He ownes about 1/3 of the tracks anyway. Hire non bias employees, and have a rule book that anyone can view without being a member of NASCAR ($400.00 membership).

NASCAR's official rulebook is written in pencil gets changed constantly. Even Jimmy Johnson said that if you can see the finish line on the last lap, the yellow line is game. Read the latest on NASCAR.com http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/05/nascar-gives-tony-stewart-talladega-win/.

It is bad when the drivers, and NASCAR spokesman, can't even keep up with the rules.

10-07-2008 @ 4:39AM

annaseitter said...

WELL, I'LL STATE THIS BLUNTLY AGAIN IN MY WORDS NOW:
NAZCAR did not give tony stewart the victory. TONY WON JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DRIVER WOULD DONE. BLOCKING!!!
Ask dale senior about blocking ,he knew a lot about.
Ask the gods of nascar if they ever blocked to win. The answer
should be obviously YES!. Again all the fuss here because tony
the black sheep of NAZCAR is involved.
Season 08 blogging begun with positives and too many blogs regarding TONY STEWART. What changed the trend lately.
Was it your fault MIKE for complainting about too many stewart
files? Was it? i do not know, i'm just asking. Maybe it's a coincidence but soon after your complaint few months ago hell
begun to fall on STEWART ON THESE PAGES.
No wonder why some stewart fans have been asking for TGIF back. The hell with TGIF i still say : enjoy FOX NEWS.But defenetely something has gotten screwed up here lately.
GET THIS EVERYBODY: LIKE haywards, johnson and biffle,
the 20 team may now get MOMENTUM AT LAST WHEN IT COUNTS in the BS NAZCAR CHASE. 1 more win or even a top 3 and than if the top3 contender get wrecks or bad finish watch out all contenders CHAMP. #3 might be near by for stewarts last struggles with the GIBBS. The ice is now broken. WAAHHHH, what a gift for the all GIBBS racket. Totally unexpected and unhoped for since KYLE hit the downtrend. works for me....

FRESH OR STALE, BREAD is back. aloha bread, welcome back, how was your trip to the other dimension? Mine was great
while ago. Hope ya had fun. Take care. works for me....

10-07-2008 @ 6:01AM

BOOHOO,BOOHOO,BOOHOO, BOOHOO,BOOHOO,
REAGAN initiate the pass deeping below the yellow line when him and stewart were bumper to bumper, NOT SIDE BY SIDE.
That's illegal since 2001 new rule in conseguence of earnhardt death.Had regan been forced below the yellow line while side by side with any driver,and passed ahead, there would not been any black flag or illegal move. He bettered his position beginning behind tony and not on side of tony.
The rule is explained at every driver meeting preraces daytona/ talladega and is the same language since 20001.
STEWART ATTENDS EVERY DRIVER MEETING AND UNDERSTANDS THE REGIME RULING WORDS. HE knew rtegan had done something illegal in the last few seconds of race end. GO read the story explained by nazcar on yahoo
sports.
BOOHOO,BOOHOO,BOOHOO,BOOHOO,BOOHOO, BOOHOO to the STEWART HATERS AND BASHERs !!!!!!!!!!.

10-16-2008 @ 4:11PM

amy said...

Nascar Did NOT give Tony that win, Reagan was blocked and tried to advance his position at Dega which has the rule of not advancing your position under the yellow line. In the drivers meeting it was stated this rule again and if you weren't listening to the rules on Sprint Cup race day and tried to go off of comments for the other series then maybe you should whine to make others feel sorry for you and take away the win from someone who deserves it not given to him!!!!! Tony earned that win with a BLOCK not a punt....