The field roared onto the back straight for the final time with Stewart half a car length ahead of Kyle Busch but, as soon as he was clear of his teammate Stewart moved low to try and protect the low line and block the #18. This gave the two Penske Dodge’s the perfect opportunity to squeeze through on the high line and, thanks to a massive shove from Kurt, Newman headed into turn three ahead. Coming out of turn four Newman was able to cross over and hug the low grove with Stewart and Kurt Busch side by side. Although Stewart had momentum he could not pass the Penske steamroller on the run to the flag with Newman crossing the line a car length ahead of his teammate who, in turn, was half a car length ahead of Stewart.
Not only does Newman break a winless streak dating back to the first ‘Chase’ race of 2005, he also gives Roger Penske the
Daytona 500 victory that had thus far eluded him. Second place for Busch was simply the icing on the cake and was especially sweet for the 2004 Cup Champion, who began the week on probation for his practice altercation with, of all people, Stewart and who began the race from 43rd and last position after retiring from his qualifying race.
Stewart found it tough to mask his disappointment at finishing third in a race where he led at the white flag but his disappointment paled in comparison to that of his teammate Busch, who led a race high 86 laps before slipping to fourth in the final three laps after his mis-timed restart move on Burton. However the performance of the Gibbs stable, and Toyota as a whole, has made the rest of the Sprint Cup garage sit up and take notice.
Reed Sorenson was delighted to round out the top five in the #41 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge and Dodge’s day of days was completed by Gillett-Evernham teammates Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler, who took sixth and seventh and by new Dodge convert Robby Gordon, who claimed a superb eighth.
![New Penske teammates Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch confer with crew-chief Roy McCauley in the Vegas garage. [Pic Credit Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/192834.jpg)
