For nearly a decade, Kenny Irwin had been a presence in Stewart's racing career. It was a rivalry highlighted by a memorably spirited on-track dispute last fall at Martinsville. When it came down to it, we respected each other. We pushed each other all the time. Stewart said he always looked at speed charts after Winston Cup practices to see where he was in relation to Irwin.
Some habits are hard to break.
There was too much between them for the loss not to hit home for Stewart. It was hard to focus. Friday was hard. Yesterday it was a little easier to deal with everything because everybody got back in race mode. Sunday morning Stewart said he watched tributes to Irwin on prerace television shows and went to an emotional chapel service where Irwin was remembered by Robert Yates, for whom Irwin drove for two seasons, and others.