Smoke Wins Wild One at Daytona

Fireworks In Last Lap Finish

Written By: Matt "Night" Rider
Saturday, July 4, 2009



DAYTONA, FL.- The Coke Zero 400 at Daytona is a tradition in Nascar. Dating back to the start of Nascar, this event has been raced every July 4th, no matter what week day the 4th fell on. Many racers and fans have fond memories of the July 4th race. This race is always exciting.


This year's race lived up to the excitement, that's for sure. Tony Stewart won the 400 in dramatic fashion, blowing by Kyle Busch on the home stretch, coming to the checkers.
Smoke started on pole, because qualifying had been washed out. The field was set according to the points standings. Smoke was in the lead, therefore he won the pole. There were some real contendors heading into the 400.


The race was dominated by Stewart, who had a fast car that could run up front for long distances. Gibbs racer Denny Hamlin worked his way through the field, various times. Hendrick entries No. 5 Mark Martin and No. 24 Jeff Gordan were caught up in wrecks early in the night. The No. 48 of Jimmie Johnson stayed strong throughout the contest.

Stewart took advantage of fast pit stops from the Stewart-Haas Racing crew. The crew got Tony off in first a total of seven times throughout the 160 lap race. A caution came out with 15 laps to go in the race. Smoke's pit crew made sure that Stewart remained in the top spot.


Coming down to the wire, there was a battle between former Gibbs teammates Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart. With the help of Denny Hamlin's pushing, Busch was about to pass Smoke, setting up a classic 400 finish. This is why every race fan watches racing, to see who emerges victorious. Stewart and Johnson set up a surge one last surge to the front runner Busch.

Busch blocked every advance from Stewart. They made contact sending Busch spinning hard into the wall, giving the win to Smoke. What a race. It was the craziest finish to a race, that I had ever seen. I don't fault Stewart one bit, because racing is racing and well if I was in Smoke's car, I would of done the same thing. Racing is racing. Anything for the win.


In case you were wondering, the rest of the top five finishers included second place Johnson. Then it was Denny Hamlin in third, while fourth went to Carl Edwards. Rounding out the top five was Kurt Busch. Kurt's little brother Kyle Busch ended the night in 14th.


The points race is heating up with half the season now in the books. Stewart holds onto a solid points lead, having amassed 2,719 points this year. Jeff Gordan lost ground and is now 180 points back of Stewart. Third place in the points is Jeff's teammate Jimmie Johnson, who trails Smoke by 194 points. Fourth is Kurt Busch, who is 305 points back. In fifth we find Carl Edwards, who is 402 behind Smoke. After his third place run, Denny Hamlin is in sixth, 417 points back . Tony's Stewart-Haas teammate and South Bend racer Ryan Newman stands in seventh, 484 points back from the top spot. Kyle Busch occupies the eighth spot in the chase, 485 points back. Nineth place belongs to Greg Biffle, who is 504 points behind the leader. Matt Kenseth takes the tenth spot in the chase, 518 points behind Stewart. After a great run at Daytona, Target Chip Ganassi racer Juan Pablo Montoya sits in 11th place, 532 points away from the lead. Kasey Kahne currently sits in the 12th and final position in the chase, 553 points behind "The Rushville Rocket".


Nascar Sprint Cup Series racing action next travels to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL. for the Lifelock.com 400 on Saturday, July 11th. All the action from Chicagoland kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.