Stewart tries to double up at Pocono (PA SportsTicker)
July 30, 2009
(Sporting News) – When you’re on a roll, it often pays to double up, and that’s what Sprint Cup points leader Tony Stewart will try to do in Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway, site of his first points win as an owner-driver for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Stretching his fuel mileage to the limit, Stewart won the June 7 Pocono 500 at the 2.5-mile Tricky Triangle to secure his first victory since leaving Joe Gibbs Racing for his own team to start the 2009 season.
Propelled by that win, Stewart now holds a 192-point lead in the Cup standings over three-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson, last Sunday’s winner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“You always think you can do better,” Stewart said, and that statement should serve as a shot across the bow of competitors hoping to find a weakness in his efforts. “I can do better behind the steering wheel. There are always things and variables that you think you can make better, and that’s what you strive for every week. I’ve been happy with our performance.”
He should be. Over the last eight races, Stewart has won twice, finished second twice and placed outside the top five only once (seventh at Michigan). Circumstances hardly could be better for the new team, which receives engines, chassis and technical support from Hendrick Motorsports.
“Historically, we’ve always been better the last half of the season, and the second third and last third of the season in particular,” Stewart said. “This is the best start we’ve ever had to a season in the Cup Series.
“I don’t know what’s different about it. I don’t know what’s changed. I just know that I’m happy with the performance up to this point, and we just hope that what we’ve done up to this point we can continue to do during the last 10-week stretch, so that we have a shot at winning the championship.”
—-=Five to watch=
Denny Hamlin, No. 11. Five drivers currently inside the top 12 have yet to win a race, and Hamlin is one of them. Along with Carl Edwards, he may have the best shot at winning this weekend. He and crew chief Mike Ford both have enjoyed considerable success at the track.
Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42. It will be interesting to see Montoya’s on-track response from last week’s huge disappointment at Indy. Montoya finished eighth in the June race here, showing he’s capable of running well. He needs all the solid finishes he can get over the next six races to stay Chase-eligible.
Greg Biffle, No. 16. Biffle may be in the most danger of falling out of the top 12 this Sunday. In 13 Pocono races, he has just two top-10 finishes. However, he has finished no worse than 15th in his last three.
Kevin Harvick, No. 29. The Chase is well out of reach for Harvick, but at the Brickyard he reappeared in the top 10 for the first time since finishing fourth at Atlanta. Whether he can put together two consecutive top 10s is the bigger question as he haggles over his future with Richard Childress Racing.
Brian Vickers, No. 83. As Vickers continues to wait for a contract extension from Red Bull Racing, the best way to prove your worthiness is to enter victory lane. A top-five finish at Indianapolis may foreshadow a great run this weekend.
—-=Track chatter=
Tony Gibson, crew chief for Ryan Newman: “I have had success (at Pocono) with a couple of different drivers, and I like the racetrack, but it is definitely a challenge because it is such a unique track. Your focus is to figure out the three different corners. All the corners are so different that it is hard to find a balance to fit all three. For a crew chief, I think the most important thing is to concentrate on what will help you and your driver the most.”
Casey Mears: “You know what’s crazy is how much the track can change in that (short) amount of time between (the two Pocono) races. I’ve gone there for the first race and been fast and spot on, then go back for the second race with the same setup and you have to change it all. It’s amazing how much the weather may change the track or maybe what your competitors have learned between now and then, too. But, you always have to stay on top of things even though it’s a short amount of time between the two races.”
Sam Hornish Jr.: “We had a strong run at Pocono in June and were poised for our first top-five finish before it rained. This No. 77 team has shown a lot if strength at flat tracks this year with top-10 finishes at Phoenix and New Hampshire as well as here at Pocono, and we are ready to build on that success.”
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