Stewart continues winning ways in delayed Nationwide Series race in Fontana.
One hour after the conclusion of Monday's rain-delayed Auto Club 500 Sprint Cup event twelve drivers were suiting up once more to compete in the Stater Bros 300 Nationwide Series race at the two-mile Auto Club Speedway in suddently sunny Southern California. One of their number, a certain T. Stewart, would emerge victorious after a dominating display.
Defying the detractors that have pointed to his somewhat expanding waistline Stewart soared to his second consecutive Nationwide Series victory as well as a second 1-2 for his Joe Gibbs Racing team. Stewart led 136 of 150 laps and beat Kyle Busch to the chequered flag by more than two seconds in a mirror of the top two positions in last weekend's
Daytona opener.
The win means that Stewart, who finished seventh in the Cup Series race, denied Busch the opportunity to leave California leading the early season points race in the Craftsman Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup championships. Busch leads Ryan Newman in the Cup standings by six points and Todd Bodine by 20 markers in the Truck campaign. However thanks to his two imperious Nationwide performances Stewart holds a 30 point advnatage over his hungry new teammate in that particular title chase.
With the Nationwide race following the Cup race at such close quarters it was no surprise to see the 12 drivers doing double duty quickly come to the fore and eventually the top nine finishing positions were locked out by Cup drivers.
Kevin Harvick finished a distant third with David Reutimann fourth and defending series champion and Auto Club 500 winner Carl Edwards fifth. Jamie McMurray, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer completed the sweep with Stephen Leicht the only non Cup interloper in tenth position.
Australian driver Marcos Ambrose finished one lap down in 22nd position with Dario Franchitti two spots further back in 24th.
