The Final Lap with Kerry Murphey

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(October 30, 2011)

MARTINSVILLE, Va.—Tony Stewart passed Jimmie Johnson on a restart with three laps left in Sunday’s Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway and held off Johnson’s desperate bid for the win on the final lap.

The victory was Stewart’s third in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and vaulted him into second place in the standings, eight points behind leader Carl Edwards. Stewart won for the 42nd time in his career.

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RACE RECAP CUP SERIES | WATKINS GLEN
(subject to change)
10 Jimmie Johnson
9 Jeff Burton
8 A.J. Allmendinger
7 Juan Montoya
6 Kevin Harvick
5 Joey Logano
4 Martin Truex Jr.
3 Kyle Busch
2 Brad Keselowski

VICTORY LANE

1 Marcos Ambrose headed to victory lane for the very first time in the Cup Series, the 5th first time winner this season.

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Where The Wild Things Are: Outside The Top 10

At first glance, making the Chase looks easier in 2011. This season, there are two ways to make it happen – land in the top 10 after race No. 26, or win and snag one of the two wild card spots.

Neither has proven as easy as it looks.

Cracking the top 10 has always been difficult and this year is no different. Just ask Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton – perennial championship candidates, all of whom are currently outside the top 10 in points.

But it just might be the Wild Card battle that’s fiercest of them all. There are now four drivers between spots 11 and 20 with wins…

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. blew his engine coming off turn 4 while battling Carl Edwards. Edwards rammed his teammate from behind, wrecking both cars as they cross the finish line 1-2.

Stenhouse Jr. Sweeps Iowa in Wild, Crazy Roush Fenway 1-2 Finish

Roush Fenway claims 12th win of 2011 season; Increases Nationwide Points lead

NEWTON, IOWA (August 6, 2011) – Roush Fenway Racing posted the wildest one-two finish in team history Saturday night at Iowa Speedway, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. posting his second career NASCAR win; sweeping both races at Iowa this season. The win is Roush Fenway’s 12th NASCAR win in 2011 and their eighth in the Nationwide Series this season.

“This was just an awesome job from this No. 6 team,” said Stenhouse Jr. “They work harder than anyone out there; all the guys at the shop and everyone at Roush Yates engines. I have to thank the good Lord above; he’s helped us through so much. I have to thank Nationwide Insurance for giving us the opportunity to come out here and put on a show for all these awesome fans. I just wish we had Blackwell Angus Beef and Cargill on this car tonight.”

Stenhouse and Roush Fenway teammate Carl Edwards engaged in a heated battle throughout the course of the race, with Stenhouse using a dramatic three-wide move to slice his No. 6 Ford Mustang through lapped traffic, eventually passing Edwards and taking the lead with 22 laps remaining.

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