Stewart, who now sits 8-points behind the series points leader Carl Edwards, received his 3rd series win of the 2011 season, his 42nd series career win and his 3rd series win at the short track known as “the paper clip.”
With his third win in the “chase for the championship,” Stewart sent a message to the series points leader, Carl Edwards, in victory lane: ”Carl Edwards had better be real worried. That’s all I’ve got to say. He’s not going to have it easy for the next three weeks.”
Following Stewart and Johnson to the drop of the checkered flag were Jeff Gordon finishing third, Kevin Harvick fourth and Saturday’s NCWTS Kroger 200 winner, Denny Hamlin, finishing in fifth.
Rounding out the top-ten finishers were Jeff Burton who finished in the sixth position, Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished seventh, Martin Truex Jr., eighth, current series points leader, Carl Edwards, ninth and Ryan Newman finishing in the tenth position.
RACE NOTES:
Best Finish Among the Championship Contenders: Tony Stewart, 1st
Worse Finish Among the Championship Contenders: Matt Kenseth, 31st
Average Speed: 68.648 MPH
Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 49 Mins, 52 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.170 Seconds
Lead Changes: 23 among 12 drivers
Cautions: 18 for 108 laps
Attendance: 62,000
Unofficial Top-12 in the Point Standings: 1. Carl Edwards – 2273 (Leader) 2. Tony Stewart – 2265 (-8 Points Behind the Leader) 3. Kevin Harvick – 2252 (-21) 4. Brad Keselowski – 2246 (-27) 5. Matt Kenseth – 2237 (-36) 6. Jimmie Johnson – 2230 (-43) 7. Kyle Busch – 2216 (-57) 8. Kurt Busch – 2215 (-58) 9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 2200 (-73) 10. Jeff Gordon – 2197 (-76) 11. Denny Hamlin – 2193 (-80) 12. Ryan Newman – 2184 (-89).
Next Up: The AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 6th, with ESPN beginning their (pre-race) television coverage at 2:00 PM (ET). FULL STORY »
