2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup champ Tony Stewart has led a lot of laps so far this year but he hasn't had the finishes to show for it. He was hoping to change that at Sunday's DIRECTV 500 at Martinsville. After last week's demolition derby at Bristol and Jeff Gordon's $10,000 fine for pushing Matt kenseth, similar things were expected at another short track. Jimmie Johnson-#48 Lowe's Chevy won the pole and was hoping to bounce back from his 30th place finish last week.
Among others, Dale Earnhardt Jr-#8 Budweiser Chevy was part of a big crash on the second lap. Earnhardt continued but Robby Gordon#7-Menards Chevy was out of the race and several other cars went to the garage for repairs. Jimmie Johnson was the leader when the green flag came out at lap ten. Tony Stewart-#20 Home Depot Chevy took the lead on lap 34 and led for most of the race.
Jeff Gordon-#24 Dupont Chevy cut down a tire on lap 90 but fortunately he was able to get to the pits but he had to start in the back. Dale Earnhardt Jr. destroyed his front right corner in the earlier crash. Ryan Newman-#12 Alltel Dodge taps Earnhardt into the inside wall on lap 316. It looks bad but Earnhardt stays on the lead lap.
Johnson would always lead the race off pit road because he had the first pit but Stewart would always get the lead after the green flag came out. Finally Johnson gets the lead from Stewart on the track at lap 378. Johnson used up his car and Stewart passed him for the lead on lap 473. Then Jeff Gordon moved into second on lap 482.
Could Stewart hold off Gordon? The red flag came out on lap 493 when Matt Kenseth-#17 DeWalt Ford lost his brakes and hit the wall hard. There was a lot of fluid on the track. The green came back out with three laps left and Tony Stewart held off Jeff Gordon for the victory.
Congratulations to Tony Stewart, crew chief Greg Zipadelli and car owner Joe Gibbs on the victory. Big fourth place finish for Dale Earnhardt Jr. after crashing twice. And a big top ten for Scott Riggs. Jimmie Johnson got the points lead back. The Nextel Cup & Busch Series are in Texas next week. Here's the top ten.
#/Driver/Sponsor/Make/Owner
1.20/Tony Stewart/Home Depot/Chevy/Joe Gibbs
2.24/Jeff Gordon/Dupont/Chevy/Rick Hendrick
3.48/Jimmie Johnson/Lowe's/Chevy/Rick Hendrick
4.8/Dale Earnhardt Jr./Budweiser/Chevy/Dale Earnhardt Inc.
5.5/Kyle Busch/Kellogg's/Chevy/Rick Hendrick
6.38/Elliott Sadler/M & M's/Ford/Robert Yates
7.29/Kevin Harvick/GM Goodwrench/Chevy/Richard Childress
8.25/Brian Vickers/GMAC/Chevy/Rick Hendrick
9.26/Jamie McMurray/Irwin Industrial Tools/Ford/Jack Roush
10.10/Scott Riggs/Valvoline/Do0dge/Ray Evernham
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