Stewart the most playful

Tony Stewart consolidated his lead at the top of the Sprint Cup by winning the Pocono 500. This is the first victory for the leader of the general classification as driver/owner of the team. And he is also the first driver/owner to win a race since Ricky Rudd at Martinsville in 1998.

And yet, the start of the weekend did not augur such an outcome. The Chevrolet driver damaged his car during the first tests, which forced him to use his reserve car and therefore start from the back of the grid on Sunday.

But Stewart made a big attempt by betting on his ability to complete the last 41 laps without making a refueling stop. And it worked ! Driving at reduced speed during the last ten laps, Stewart managed to cross the line while maintaining a few seconds ahead of Carl Edwards, second.

Jimmie Johnson, the reigning champion, took seventh despite running out of fuel in the final corner. “ In the end, we were all playing save fuel but I wasn't being playful enough “, quipped the pilot.

With this victory, Stewart consolidates his lead at the top of the Sprint Cup with 2043 points. Behind, Jeff Gordon is 71 lengths behind and Jimmie Johnson maintains his third place with 103 units behind.