Document text
--> --> A patient Stewart rules again at Richmond amid massive delays By Hank Kurz Jr. AP Sports Writer RICHMOND, Va. - Tony Stewart has no idea why he rules Richmond International Raceway. He has three victories in seven career starts at the track and has finished in the top 10 in three of the other races. "I don't have any secrets here," he said after pulling away from Ryan Newman on a restart with 17 laps to go Sunday to win the rain-delayed Pontiac Excitement 400. "I guess I just get around here good." The victory was Stewart's second of the season and 14th of his career. "I probably ran one of the most patient races I've ever run," he said. "And it wasn't because I wanted to but because I had to." There were a track record-tying 14 caution periods and a record 103 laps run under the yellow flag on the track billed "The Action Track." "There were a lot of guys that were being very courteous, a lot of give and take going on out there," he said. "And then there were a lot of guys that were in a big hurry, and it seemed like the guys that got in a hurry, sure enough, as time went on they were dropping out like flies." Stewart's car wasn't cooperating early but crew chief Greg Zipadelli kept the faith. "Greg will listen to me whine and carry on on the radio and he'll let me get depressed," Stewart said. "Then he'll come back and start pumping me up and the next thing you know, we're back where we need to be." The victory lifted Stewart from 10th to eighth in the points race, and came from the back of the field. He qualified third, but had to change motors after qualifying and was penalized, going to the back of the field. He was 27th when the race resumed for the final 334 laps after what amounted to a 14-hour rain delay, and gradually worked his way forward. He passed Mark Martin for third with 67 laps to go, got by Jeff Gordon for second with 55 laps left and then set his sights on Newman, a rookie who ran in the top five all day and was strongest on long runs. After following on Newman's bumper for several laps, Stewart finally sneaked his car underneath on the 372nd lap, rode side by side with Newman for a lap and then pulled ahead for good entering the first turn. Newman held on for second in his Ford, followed by the Fords of Jack Roush teammates Jeff Burton and Martin, and Jeremy Mayfield's Dodge. "From the drop of the green flag last night to the checkered flag today, we knew we had a good car," Newman said. "We had a car that was capable of winning, but sometimes you can't finish what you start." Count Stewart among those impressed by Newman. "He is probably the smartest, most calculated young driver we have in our series right now and he's not got his win yet," Stewart said. "But a day like today, when you lose it in the last 20 laps, is the day that really makes you appreciate it when you do get that first win." Burton, meanwhile, rallied for his best finish of the season after cutting a tire with about 100 laps to go. "I think we came out 28th with about 100 laps to go and drove up to third, so that was all we had," he said. "That was all we could get." Matt Kenseth, another Roush driver, came from three laps down early to finish sixth, and Jeff Gordon finished seventh as the top Chevrolet. For much of the day, it looked as if Ricky Rudd would make history in style in his record-tying 655th consecutive start. He led 90 laps and seemed to have the dominant car until he crashed with 91 laps to go. Marlin finished 11th and remained the points leader. He is 132 ahead of Kenseth, who passed Kurt Busch for second. Busch is third, 191 behind, and Martin is fourth, giving Roush three of the top four. Martin is 193 back. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing