Is it Finally Stewart’s Time to Shine?

With seven races behind them, NASCAR drivers are turning their attention to the Subway Fresh Fit 500 on the 12th at the Phoenix International Speedway. And the crowds turn their attention to their predicted favorites which range from Carl Edwards, who is on a hot streak this year to Martin Truex Jr. who led 72 laps last year at the PIR.

The Phoenix track is flat and is a 1.0-mile tri-oval. This track is a bit of an anomaly in that every turn is different, making the ends of the track opposite in nature. Turns 1 and 2 are much tighter than 3 and 4, but they allow for more banking by the drivers, and Turn 2 will separate the men from the boys.

Drivers either do well or poorly on short tracks. The tight turns and the inability to set up a consistent rhythm with the speed-up-slow-down mentality can be a real challenge. But few handle it better than Tony Stewart.

Currently, Stewart is 5th in overall points. He has had several races where he appeared to be poised for victory lane only to fall short because of car difficulties or poor strategic decisions. So far, Stewart has finished 6th in three races: Daytona, the Auto Club 500, and Food City. He also had a 9th place finish at Goody’s, but beyond that he has placed no higher than 24th.

Stewart, a member of the Joe Gibbs Racing Team, has always had a “bad boy” image. With his outlandish remarks after races and his intimidator-style tactics on the track, Stewart has appealed to a rougher type of NASCAR fan.

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Stewart was a Cup Champion in both 2002 and 2005, catapulting him into stardom. With ten years of racing under his belt, he’s no rookie. And his fans are die-hard.

Regardless of what you think about Tony Stewart, this week may finally be his time to visit victory lane. Stewart is one of the best drivers when it comes to short tracks with tight turns and rapid momentum changes. Keep your eye on #20. It’s going to be a wild ride.

By Angela Moore
Pro Racing Fans Staff Writer

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