Tony Stewart Top 5: No. 2 – Red-hot Smoke captures second Cup title
Chase for the Championship, Daytona 500, Daytona 500 pole qualifying, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona USA, Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500, Tony Stewart, joe gibbs  posted by orlandosentinel on November, 15 2008 11:54 AM
As Tony Stewart prepares for his final NASCAR Sprint Cup start with Joe Gibbs Racing, we’re reflecting on the Top 5 moments of his NASCAR career. Each day at noon, we are counting down Smoke’s greatest Cup Series moments leading into Sunday’s Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway:
No. 2: Red-hot Smoke captures second Cup title Tony Stewart’s run to the 2005 Nextel Cup championship featured a red-hot mid-season run. During a seven-race stretch that began on the winding road course of Infineon Raceway, Stewart won five races and cemented his place atop the standings. Following his Infineon win, Stewart won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona – his first restrictor plate win in a points race – and then claimed the checkered flag at New Hampshire, Indianapolis at Watkins Glen. Smoke didn’t win a Chase race that year, but finished three of them in second place. It was truly a season to remember for Smoke, who fattened his bank account with more than $13 million in prize money. (Click here for a Tony Stewart photo gallery stocked with more than 100 photos!)
Tony Stewart Top 5 Recap No. 5 — click hereNo. 4 — click hereNo. 3 — click hereNo. 2 — click hereNo. 1 — click here
Enjoy this YouTube video from 2005, as Smoke trades barbs with David Letterman.
Here’s YouTube video from the closing laps of the 2005 Pepsi 400. I loved listening to the announcers, who seem flabbergasted that Smoke climbed the Daytona fence and stepped inside the flag stand. Fun stuff indeed.
File under: 2005,championship,countdown,Cup,David Letterman,Daytona,Homestead-Miami,Infineon,joe gibbs,New Hampshire,Nextel,Sprint,Tony Stewart,Watkins Glen Dale Earnhardt Jr. on DEI merger: Daddy ‘aint here to take care of everybody … so take care of yourself’
Continue reading Dale Earnhardt Jr. on DEI merger: Daddy ‘aint here to take care of everybody … so take care of yourself’ »
File under: 2005,championship,countdown,Cup,Dale Earnhardt,dale earnhardt jr.,David Letterman,Daytona,DEI,Ganassi,Homestead,Homestead-Miami,Infineon,joe gibbs,NASCAR,New Hampshire,Nextel,Sprint,Sprint Cup,Tony Stewart,Watkins Glen,Winston Cup Johnny Benson wins truck championship
Uncategorized  posted by orlandosentinel on November, 14 2008 10:32 PM
Ron Hornaday made up a lot of ground on a green-white-checkered finish, but it wasn’t enough to knock Johnny Benson off his slim points lead. Benson won the championship finishing seventh, with Hornaday right behind him in eighth place.
Todd Bodine, who won the season opener in Daytona, also won tonight.
File under: championship,Dale Earnhardt,dale earnhardt jr.,DEI,Ganassi,Homestead,Homestead-Miami,NASCAR,Sprint Cup,Winston Cup NASCAR star Carl Edwards appreciates 2008, regardless of what happens at Homestead
Car of Tomorrow, Carl Edwards, Chase for the Championship, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR, nationwide series  posted by orlandosentinel on November, 14 2008 9:20 AM
Carl Edwards enters Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend with slim chances to capture the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series championships.
But if Edwards leaves South Florida without a championship trophy, he said that his 2008 accomplishments won’t be forgotten.
“I’ve learned to try to take joy in our performances and the things that I’ve become better at and the driver that I’ve become,” Edwards told reporters Thursday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I feel like the wins and the things we’ve done this season, by themselves, they kind of hold me up and make me feel good about this season. Whatever happens, happens.”
Edwards has won 14 races in 2008, eight in Sprint Cup and six in Nationwide. He trails Jimmie Johnson by 141 points in the Sprint Cup Chase, and Clint Bowyer by 56 points in Nationwide heading into their season finales.To Edwards, this is just the beginning of something special.
“I’m 29 years old, and I feel like our team is the best it’s ever been, and I think we have a lot to look forward to.”
File under: 2002,Carl Edwards,championship,Clint Bowyer,George Bush,Homestead,Jimmie Johnson,joe gibbs,Mark Martin,Miami,NASCAR,nationwide series,racing,smoke,Speedway,Sprint Cup,Sterling Marlin,title,Tony Stewart,wins,Winston Cup Jimmie Johnson: ‘I am the jacka#@ from El Cajon’
Carl Edwards, Chase for the Championship, Jimmie Johnson, Sprint, rusty wallace  posted by orlandosentinel on November, 13 2008 1:53 PM
Rusty Wallace asked a long, drawn out question to Jimmie Johnson during Thursday’s press conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway. At the question’s core was, if Jimmie wins his third Sprint Cup championship this weekend, could he just relax, be himself and be "the jackass from El Cajon"?
Of course, it took ol’ Rusty forever to finish his question, because he had to point out the identities of all the former Cup champions in the room, including "The King" Richard Petty, "Jaws" Darrell Waltrip, "The Gentleman" Ned Jarrett and, then ultimately, Rusty himself — a k a "Rubberhead".
Johnson made the room laugh when he said that he was just "the jackass from El Cajon" but he also said he’ll ultimately be known as "The Confusing One" because nobody can figure him out.
File under: Cale Yarborough,Carl Edwards,championship,chase,Clint Bowyer,El Cajon,Homestead,jackass,Jimmie Johnson,Miami,NASCAR,nationwide series,Ned Jarrett,Richard Petty,rusty wallace,Speedway,Sprint Cup,title,wins If NASCAR can’t compete with America’s Funniest Home Videos, what does it say about the Chase?
Chase for the Championship, Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR, NASCAR media, Phoenix International Raceway, TV, hendrick motorsports  posted by orlandosentinel on November, 10 2008 12:55 PM
There’s still a lot of uproar in NASCAR nation about ABC switching from the final laps of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Phoenix to show “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”
At 7:28 p.m. EST Sunday, ABC’s east coast and central time zone feed switched away from the NASCAR playoffs and moved the broadcast to ESPN2.
To me, it’s a slap in the face to NASCAR fans and the sport. What does it say about NASCAR’s postseason?
“It doesn’t say very much,” Rick Hendrick said after his driver, Jimmie Johnson, won the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix. “ I didn’t know that. That’s where my mother is. I’m glad my phone went dead at the end of the race.”
When asked about the switch, Johnson said:
“Well, I thought it went dark and nobody could watch it. So the fact that it was on another television channel was … I mean, it’s better. It’s still somewhat on a prime channel of course on ABC, but to go to America’s Funniest Home Videos, that one hurts (laughter), no doubt. I thought we have a lot of characters. Why do we need that show?”
File under: ABC,championship,ESPN,ESPN2,Jimmie Johnson,NASCAR,phoenix,playoffs,postseason,Rick Hendrick,Sprint Cup Kurt Busch on NASCAR Chase: Jimmie Johnson’s run is “something special”
Carl Edwards, Chase for the Championship, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Sprint, hendrick motorsports  posted by orlandosentinel on November, 10 2008 11:34 AM
Kurt Busch has often gotten a bad rep on the racetrack, and he’s been a punching bag for the likes of Tony Stewart and Jimmy Spencer.
But I’ve always found the guy to be gracious and open with his comments, and Sunday was no different after Jimmie Johnson won the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix.
When the 2004 Nextel Cup champion was asked if he was surprised that Jimmie Johnson was making this year’s title run look so easy, Busch offered some thoughtful comments. He said:
"Yes and no. ‘04 was a battle to the end. I wish every Chase could be like that so that every driver gets to go through the gut wrenching feel that we had to go through.
"But as a quick timeline, 2006, these guys peaked, they hit their game. That’s when we had the old downforce car, and they were tough to beat."
"2007 was a transitional year. They were really strong with the new COT. They were still strong with the old car. If you win during a transitional year, that’s only going to bode well for the future.
"2008, they’re on their game. It’s something special to watch."
Indeed, Busch is right. We’re watching something special unfold. Dominance like this doesn’t come around often, and how long it will last is uncertain. Enjoy it for what it is. Add a comment
File under: ABC,championship,chase,ESPN,ESPN2,Jimmie Johnson,Jimmy Spencer,Kurt Busch,NASCAR,Nextel Cup,phoenix,playoffs,postseason,Rick Hendrick,Sprint Cup,Tony Stewart NASCAR at Phoenix: ABC gives up on race at 7:28 EST, moves broadcast to ESPN2
Car of Tomorrow, Carl Edwards, Chase for the Championship, Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR, Phoenix International Raceway, hendrick motorsports  posted by orlandosentinel on November, 9 2008 7:32 PM
What a bush-league move by ABC. It’s moving the finish of the Checker O’Reilly 500 at Phoenix International Raceway to ESPN2 at 7:28 EST. Why? So it can show America’s Funniest Home Videos! Wow.
A pair of red flags has created two major delays during this race, the latest brought on by a multi-car wreck in Turn 3.
Even so, if ABC wants to bill itself as the home to NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, it should show this race to the finish on the main network.
Jimmie Johnson leads and holds a 141-point lead over Carl Edwards, who sits in sixth place. Add a comment
File under: ABC,Carl Edwards,championship,chase,ESPN,ESPN2,Jimmie Johnson,NASCAR,phoenix NASCAR at Phoenix: Huge crash brings out second red flag with 39 laps left
Uncategorized  posted by orlandosentinel on November, 9 2008 7:09 PM
A huge pileup in Turn 3 with 39 laps left has the red flag flying at Phoenix International Raceway.
The rear of David Gilliland’s Ford now sits atop the Red Bull Toyota of Scott Speed and you can see flames coming out of the read of Gilliland’s car.
Marcus Ambrose, Casey Mears, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty and others were involved in this late-race fracas … the first major accident during this Checker O’Reilly 500.
This is the second red flag of the day. The first was flown because of a desert rain shower. Add a comment
File under: ABC,Carl Edwards,championship,chase,ESPN,ESPN2,Jimmie Johnson,NASCAR,phoenix Carl Edwards wins Nationwide Series race at Phoenix, pulls closer within 56 points of Clint Bowyer
File under: Carl Edwards,championship,Clint Bowyer,Denny Hamlin,Homestead-Miami,kevin harvick,nationwide series,phoenix,race Next