Stewart wins the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona with a wild finish
48 Comments Quote selected text Published July 4th, 2009 in NASCAR News
Tony Stewart nudged Kyle Busch aside out of turn 4 and into the wall as the two barreled to the finish line to win the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.
Busch passed Stewart on lap 199 to take the lead, but Stewart closed in on the final lap and nudged Busch’s bumper, and the slight contact sent Busch drifting up the track.
Busch slid back down to maintain his lead, then tried to slide in front of Stewart to block Stewart’s next move. The cars were too close together and Stewart hooked Busch’s right corner to send Busch sailing into the wall.
“That’s not the way I wanted to do it,” said Stewart.
“I went where I had to go, and he went where he had to go,” Stewart said. “You hate seeing a guy that’s been up front all day, especially a guy that’s helped me the whole race, wreck like that. You’re kind of forced in that position. But I made my move to the outside and he went to block us and we were already there.
“It still doesn’t mean you like it. That’s not the way to win these things. If I did something wrong, I’m sorry.”
It was a horrendous wreck for Busch, who climbed from his car apparently unscathed but had to be forced by four NASCAR officials into a waiting safety vehicle. He finished 14th and refused to comment after the race.
Team owner Joe Gibbs briefly checked on Busch, who needed intravenous fluids after driving a 70-minute stint in stifling heat earlier Saturday in his Grand-Am Series debut. Gibbs said Busch had a headache, and would be monitored overnight for precautionary reasons.
“It’s a tough place to race,” Gibbs said. “I felt like he gave it everything he could. I’m proud of him.”
RESULTS:
FIN ST CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR PTS/BNS LAPS STATUS
1 1 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Burger King 195/10 160 Running
2 3 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s 170/0 160 Running
3 6 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Office 170/5 160 Running
4 5 99 Carl Edwards Ford Subway 160/0 160 Running
5 4 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite 160/5 160 Running
6 18 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Kingsford / Clorox / Bush’s Beans 150/0 160 Running
7 17 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull 146/0 160 Running
8 10 17 Matt Kenseth Ford R+L Global Services 147/5 160 Running
9 12 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target 138/0 160 Running
10 23 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Stanley Tools 134/0 160 Running
11 22 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Irwin Marathon Saw Blades 130/0 160 Running
12 43 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row Companies 127/0 160 Running
13 31 6 David Ragan Ford UPS 124/0 160 Running
14 8 18 Kyle Busch Toyota Interstate Batteries 126/5 160 Running
15 13 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser 118/0 160 Running
16 16 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar 120/5 160 Running
17 30 44 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge Paralyzed Veterans of America 112/0 160 Running
18 9 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M Scotch-Brite 109/0 160 Running
19 21 20 Joey Logano * Toyota The Home Depot 106/0 160 Running
20 7 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army 108/5 160 Running
21 28 96 Bobby Labonte Ford Academy Sports + Outdoors 100/0 160 Running
22 34 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Mapei / Menards 102/5 160 Running
23 33 98 Paul Menard Ford Johns Manville / Menards 94/0 160 Running
24 36 09 Brad Keselowski Chevrolet Miccosukee Resort & Gaming 91/0 160 Running
25 24 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker 88/0 160 Running
26 27 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Pennzoil Platinum 85/0 160 Running
27 35 34 John Andretti Chevrolet Taco Bell 87/5 160 Running
28 2 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 84/5 160 Running
29 15 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Cheerios / Hamburger Helper 76/0 159 Running
30 42 37 Tony Raines Dodge Gander Mountain / Remington 73/0 158 Running
31 37 187 Scott Speed * Toyota NEMCO Motorsports 70/0 152 Accident
32 25 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Mobil 1 67/0 152 Running
33 26 43 Reed Sorenson Dodge U.S. Air Force 64/0 146 Running
34 20 07 Casey Mears Chevrolet Jack Daniel’s 61/0 144 Running
35 32 12 David Stremme Dodge Penske Racing 58/0 129 Running
36 14 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron’s Dream Machine 55/0 127 Running
37 29 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts 52/0 124 Running
38 11 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet Carquest / Kellogg’s 49/0 79 Running
39 19 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet National Guard “Serving America” / Amp Energy 46/0 76 Accident
40 38 171 David Gilliland Chevrolet TRG Motorsports 43/0 76 Accident
41 39 187 Joe Nemechek Toyota NEMCO Motorsports 40/0 25 Transmission
42 41 36 Patrick Carpentier Toyota Tommy Baldwin Racing 37/0 18 Engine
43 40 66 Dave Blaney Toyota Prism Motorsports 34/0 2 Overheating
That was an intense finish. Kyle really doesn’t have a whole lot of room to be mad though, unless he’s mad at his own spotter. Stewart was obviously over him, and when Busch tried to come up and block him he wrecked himself instead. That’s what happens when you try to block someone that is already above you. Blame the spotter.
Congrats Tony!! Don’t feel bad! Kyle was definitely at fault!
let me start off with this
I am happy that Kyle was ok… 10 years ago, I strongly feel that would have been a fatal crash. I am happy I can watchi him race another day…
now
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA THAT WAS GREAT
the kid has no one to blame but himself (maybe his spotter) he should NOT have went for the block there
What’s with the reporter stating Tony wrecked Kyle? Obviously they didn’t watch the same race that I did. Kyle wrecked Kyle. I like Kyle and I’m glad he was able to walk away and hope that he’ll be okay. Congrats to Tony and the #14 team. They did an AWESOME job all night. They were flawless.
NOW THAT!!! …Is what you call a classic finish..That was great..I don’t wish anything bad on Kyle even though he is not particularly my favorite driver..but you gotta tip your hat off to Tony Stewart!..I’m a Dale Jr. fan but I always liked Smoke AHAHAHAHA I LOVE IT!
Same as the deal with Carl and Brad but the whole Kyle vs Nascar officials was gut busting.
George Thompson wrote:
Not really. Carl and Brad was more Carl protecting his line. Where this was Kyle trying to do a Days of Thunder style block of the lane 2 grooves up the track.
George Thompson wrote:
Yeah just like the commentary was saying it’d be best for him to just let it go..Because if Kyle does that it’ll show his attitude better as he was clearly shaken up by it.
Aside from the classic finish, did anyone else find the majority of the race more boring/dull than usual? I don’t really expect them to become seperated that far apart at Daytona. It seems like most of the cars were really ill handling that they couldn’t form straight drafting lines. Either way, good job to the 14 team!
good finish, but it really made me mad when people cheered for kyle crashing, no matter how much u cant stand the guy, u should never cheer a wreck…its just sickening, ive been on the forums tonight and people have been real low saying his wreck should of been a career ender. but congrats to tony
YESSSSSSSS GO TONY
14 FAN FOR LIFEEEEE!
NascarWonderBoy wrote:
I was at the race and that was the best finish I have seen live in awhile… And we all cheered when Kyle wreaked. It was a thing of beauty
jaywayne
lIKE NASCARWAONDERBOY SAID, anyone that cheers when a driver is onvolved in accident have no class, and are not true race fans.
I would have to say that was a late block by Kyle, same deal as Carl did. Need we forget these guys are making somme pretty serious choices in less then a second. Kyle obviously made a bad one, as all driver have in there race career.
Must say Kyle still did better then JR LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL now jr is 21st in points
SEE ROWDY… sometimes you do fuel the flame he was running damn well both in the busch race than again yesterday.. he got caught up in the big one.
and as for cheering, Like I have said in the past, and showed here, There is one thing to cheer when someone gets hurt and its a totally different ballgame when they get out and walk away
Like several people have said, I am glad Baby shrub walked away from that crash….but i also hope this will wake him up and he will realize that he is human and making bonehead moves like that second block could get him and others hurt.
ROWDY BUSH wrote:
Kyle screws up big time and your still going to take a shot at JR? There is one major difference Kyle was at fault and JR got taken out by somone elses deal.
I was pretty disappointed that TNT failed to give updates on the other guys in the infield care center that were involved in that wreck – especially Kasey, since he took the hardest two hits, next to Kyle’s. As a fan, I would’ve liked to have an update on my driver before they went off-air. Seriously, a simple “checked and released” would’ve sufficed.
NascarWonderBoy wrote:
Yea I agree but you can’t expect too much from a bunch of classless Jr. rednecks in the peanut gallery. Keep in mind that this is coming from the same people that throw trash onto the track when they don’t like the winner of a race. Stay classy guys.
Sam wrote:
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You can’t teach a dummy nothing Sam, he will still be wreckless until the inevitable day comes!!!
Jack Daniels wrote:
Kinda funny, people were saying the same thing about Dale Sr, and DW, and Tony, and they all became multiple time champions and winning car owners.
Fisha695 wrote:
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Dale Sr, and DW, and Tony also used their brains doing this, where Shrubby don’t…
I loved the end of the race, that was the best part of the whole race!!!! I’m not glad Kyle walked away, I wish he would of broke his legs!!! He is a jerk!!!!! Way to go Tony!!!!!! Kyle was in the wrong!!!!
tigger…thats just not cool. A little cage rattling is one thing but broken legs is wrong.
GordonOwnz wrote:
That comment is so wrong in so many ways!! Most of the JR. fans I have ever set next to at the several races a year I go to are passionate about there feelings for JR. but respectfull of other fans and drivers! That being said there are some bad egg, but percentage wise not any worse then any other drivers fans including Gordon’s
AS for the Race Grats to Tony He had the best car all night and drove a very smart, clean race! As for Kyle, He had a very strong car at the end and just made a mistake by trying to make that second block (up high ) but so would almost any other driver if they had to. He was going for the Win. Its good that his mistake didn’t hurt Tony, Jimmy or Carl and sucks that it took out a lot of other cars. I’m glad every one was OK. But Kyles second mistake is the sad one, the way he acted after the wreck to the safety workers was very childish and uncalled for. He knows the rules and had no business arguing with them they were just doing there job. But as he try’s to do every time things don’t go his way and he can’t blame another driver, he just wanted to run and hide and pout.
He is a great Driver but his attitude is very bad and I don’t think he will ever be able to change it, not even with Joe Gibbs preaching in his ear. If Joe hasn’t been able to change him a little by now I don’t see it ever happening. The bad thing for Kyle is all the cars of JGR’s that Kyle tears up has to cost them a lot of $$$ and with and with all the financial cut backs to the teams how long can JGR afford to keep him around. I guess time will tell.
And Rowdy, you just cant help your self with the JR. jabs can you? lol.
I was being nice, I wish he would of broke his neck!!!!!
Ganjadude you are a pussy!!! Kyle LOVER
Tigger wrote:
heh first time ive ever been called anything of the sort. you crack me up, let me know when you and an 18 wheeler meet
Ganjadude wrote:
So it is ok if I die but not Kyle huh??? You are a Kyle LOVER!!!!!!
Ganjadude wrote:
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Sounds like we have a immature idiot out here Ganja
wrote:
that is a /ignore from now on from me
GordonOwnz wrote:
So I’m not a true race fan and I’m not classy??? I could bashed Kyle like he does to all the JR fans!!! Kyle doesn’t care who he wreaks to win a race so why should I care if he got punted at the end??? Fans are getting to damn vanilla, ever since Earnhardt passed it seems a lot of people have just decided to get all PC and judge others, I guess that means you go to a baptist church with all the other people who like to throw stones at somebody cause they arnt like them
Ganjadude wrote:
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I said that by the way, somehow I got signed out.
Ganja you’re an Earnhardt fan right?
I have never posted here before, but seems to me like Tony started this whole affair when he got into 18’s left rear quarter panel and yes Kyle was late coming up to block. IMHO all of you 18 haters would have been all over him if the situation was reversed. YOU would have said he should never have bumped Tony after Tony had made a clean pass on the previous lap and it was all Kyle’s fault. The beer cans would have been flying.
It takes a pretty low life type to say they wish he had broken his neck, you need to get your own life in order if you truly feel this way!
flyingfish wrote:
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OK Tiger
Jack Daniels wrote:
right now its tough but of course, and always will
my diecast collection
http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/jeeper4391/?start=all
thats was an awesome finish Kyle wrecked himself tony just went up high to make a move and kyle screwed himself up he can’t blame junior on that.maybe that will not some sense into him but prolly not i mean what a baby nascar officals had to carry him to the ambulance that was so funny WHAAAA I DONT WANNA GO WHAAA I WANT MY BOTTLE!!! haha
Exciting, wreckfest restrictor plate finish. I think I’ll call Tony “Papa Whopper” from now on!
Ganjadude wrote:
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Great collection, yeah I know it’s tough, but once an Earnhardt fan always an Earnhardt fan..
Check out both of my websites, alot of pages to both of them, movie clips, etc, have to do some work on them yet, my movie clip pages anyway, but the rest are up and running ok, go to:
http://www.angelfire.com/de3/3fanforever and
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/nascar3and8
Alot to check out, ENJOY!!!
so ROWDY, why in hell would u bring up JR…seriously?….go ask Kasey Kahne why he was bump drafting a car that was sideways?…i mean really…thats the reason JR got wrecked….Kyle got wrecked cause hes an idiot…but he did what he had to do none the less…and it was an awesome finish…but not as bad as the dega wreck that carl took..by a long shot…
anyways…you get on here and rag on JR Nation and all this crap…and you wonder why we all get defensive…and mainly its because of people like you who blame someone elses crap on JR….yea hes not the best driver out there…but if he didnt have talent he wouldnt have 18 career wins…so what…stop being ignorant and starting crap for no reason
i honestly would not be suprised if you really are kyle busch IRL….sitting on ur blackberry talking smack on a forum….
QQ some more, you got wrecked cause of your own stupidity…grow up…jesus christ
Busch got what they say, and I quote ” what goes around, COMES around ” Its is nice to see that qoute has meaning. life goes on.
Well Darrell
Maybe your right, but Im over people seeing they are glad to see drivers get into wrecks. No matters whose fault it was. Doesnt matter if you like a guy or not, every single accident could possibly be the last accident, as much as I hate Jr, I dont wish him in accident. People that wish accidents on drivers are not race fans, they are fans of a driver, and there is a huge difference in race fan and the fan of a driver. As a race fan it sucked seeing any driver like Kyle or carl get wrecked or cause the wreck on the last lap, but thats the situation nascar has put them in. It was an awesome finish and glad to see all are ok .
ROWDY BUSH wrote:
i never said I LIKED SEEING HIM WRECK? I like seeing him get what he deserves sometimes for the way he races people yes, but in no way would i ever wish someone to hit the wall/another car as hard as he did…not in a million years….ive been an earnhardt fan for my entire life pretty much…why on earth would i love to see people wreck?….put 2 and 2 together…seriously….kyle knows why he got wrecked, and so does the rest of the racing world…it was blatantly obvious….but regardless, there is absolutely NO REASON for u to throw JR under the bus…espec when he had NOTHING to do with it…ur just as immature as kyle himself (if in fact your arent him to begin with)….yes, some of JR NATION is pathetic and immature….but you know what, every driver has those same exact fans…so u need to get off ur high horse and think for 1 second what gives you the right to go and slander other peoples names just b/c they are a fan of a particular driver you dispise…way to generalize…your a waste of human flesh in my book and im ashamed that people like you watch the racing we all have come to know and love over the years…
ROWDY BUSH wrote:
I dont think you are being honest with yourself right now
who is ahead of shrub in points? You are telling me that you hope they do well? Of couse not! You want them out of the race by any means necessary so that shrub can move up and get his championship. Just as I want everyone in 1st-20th to wreck right now lol but there is a difference between wanting to see someone wreck and seeing someone get hurt, and I know you know that
I think most of the fans were cheering that Kyle didn’t win, not that he was violently wrecking. I cheered when the 18 got pushed aside, but not because he wrecked. As much as I dislike him, I would never wish injury upon him. I just loved to see him lose it at the end. Hey, it’s a racing accident. I’m glad everyone was okay and will be able to race another day.
ganjadude wrote:
I agree with you. There is a big difference. I would never want anyone to get hurt. But that doesn’t mean I don’t hope they cut a tire on a restart from time to time to let my drivers by. Haha. It would be a different story though if the cars weren’t as safe as they are now.
ganjadude wrote:
Nicely put Ganj!! AS I have stated to Rowdy before, it is one thing to spout poison against JR. in a JR. article but to constantly bring JR. up in one that has nothing to do with JR is another. To me that is not being a “race fan” but a “fan of a driver”!!!!!
well nascar fan you were missing the point as well, It wasnt that he brought up jr is that he is claiming that he never wants to see someone wreck out that i feel he is being dishonest with himself about
ganjadude wrote:
I Understand that Ganj. I was adding my thoughts on his JR. remark in with my compliment to you.