Once Out of Sight, Out Of Mind, Stewart Now In Chase Position

Once Out of Sight, Out Of Mind, Stewart Now In Chase Position

It’s not exactly “worst to first,” but it sure is close.

Over the first 11 races, when Tony Stewart dipped to as low as 24th in the points standings, the three-time series champion earned an average of 23 points per race. Over the last four races, all of which have been top-10 finishes, he has averaged 41 points per race.

Stewart’s 180-degree turn has him in the top 10 in points for the first time this season, a position which seemed highly unlikely only three weeks.

And now, sitting 10th in points, Stewart looks destined for a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and a chance at a fourth series championship that would tie him for fourth on the all-time list with Jeff Gordon.

In his 15-year career, Stewart has now been the top 10 in points after 15 races 11 times. The lowest he’s been after 15 years was 12th. His average points position after 15: 7.5.

Perusing the upcoming schedule, there’s little to suggest Stewart’s rapid climb up the standings will slow.

Up next: Sonoma Raceway, where Stewart has two victories (to go along with five at Watkins Glen, the second of two road-course races on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule).

In three weeks, Stewart will run the Daytona night race, an event at which he has four wins. Then New Hampshire (three wins) and Indianapolis (two wins). The only possible stumbling block is Kentucky in two weeks, where Stewart has an average finish of 22.0 in two starts.

 

Sunoco Rookie Of The Year Leaders Have Similar Stats

Some of NASCAR’s brightest premier series stars have won rookie of the year honors including NASCAR Hall of Fame members Richard Petty, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace.

The competition is based upon a points system separate from overall NASCAR Sprint Cup standings with candidates effectively racing against each other. Only their best 17 finishes are counted with bonuses added on a sliding scale for top 10 overall finishes; end of season series points ranking and the judgment of a special panel on overall on- and off-track performance.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is the current leader having scored 160 points. Danica Patrick is four points behind with Timmy Hill, who has competed in eight races, third.

On paper, there is little to differentiate Stenhouse, driver of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford and Patrick, who competes in the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet. Patrick has the edge in best finish – eighth at Daytona after becoming the first female pole winner in Daytona 500 history – while Stenhouse scores on consistency.

Stenhouse is still in pursuit of his first top-10 finish but edges Patrick in top 15s by a five to three count. The two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion has 10 lead lap finishes – including the most recent three races – to Patrick’s four. Stenhouse, whose best qualifying position is third at Kansas, has led three races for a total of 29 laps to Patrick’s one for five laps.

 

Going Streaking: Logano, Harvick Climb Points On Strength Of Streaks

Much has been trumpeted about Tony Stewart’s current four-race top-10 streak that has launched him from outside the top 20 to his current 10th-place points position.

But two other drivers have assembled lengthy streaks of their own, and have done it in quiet fashion: Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick.

With five consecutive top-10 finishes, Harvick boasts the longest active top-10 streak in the series. Included among that group is his win in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and last week’s runner-up finish at Michigan. Harvick’s streak has moved him from outside Chase contention (he was 12th after a 40th place finish at Talladega), to his current standing inside the top five (he leapfrogged Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Michigan, and now sits fourth).

Enjoying a four-race top-10 streak, Logano’s first season with Penske Racing has thus far been a prosperous one. He has already scored more top fives (four) and top 10s (seven) than any of his previously four seasons through 15 races.

His recent surge has catapulted him from 19th in the points to his current 14th-place position, and has put him within earshot of the top 10. He currently sits 12 points behind 10th-place Tony Stewart.

 

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Etc.

Three drivers will attempt to make their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start on Sunday at Sonoma: Alex Kennedy, Victory Gonzalez Jr. and Paulie Harraka. The last time three or more drivers made their debut in the same race was at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 24, 2004 when Chad Chaffin, Mario Gosselin and Travis Kvapil all made their debut. … Brian Vickers returns to the seat of the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota. He finished fourth at Sonoma last year.