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Tony Stewart moves Hamlin and ends three-year winless streak

The drought ended for Tony Stewart on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway.

Race winner Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing

Race winner Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing

NASCAR Media

For Stewart, it was his first Sprint Cup victory since June 2013 at Dover International Speedway — 110 races (84 starts) ago.

“I’ll take that, but I’m probably going to get the (crap) kicked out of me,” Stewart said after bumping Denny Hamlin out of the way for his 49th career win.

“We’re coming Chase,” replied crew chief Mike Bugarewicz.

Pit strategy worked in Stewart’s favor as the No. 14 team elected to short pit on Lap 85 when he was running 17th. NASCAR called the third caution of the day for debris one circuit later and Stewart inherited the lead. 

For Stewart, it was his third win on the 1.99-mile road course and his 49th victory in Cup. He started 10th and lead the final 22 laps — but Stewart was not uncontested. Hamlin, who led the most laps (33), passed the No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevy on the final lap in Turn 7. But Hamlin wheel-hopped in Turn 11 and Stewart knocked the No. 11 Toyota out of the way.

“I was looking in the rearview more than I was out front,” Hamlin said. He was doing what he had to and we were doing what we had to do. All’s fair in love and war.

“He’s in his final season, so his give-a-shit factor is probably pretty low."

There were 12 lead changes among 12 drivers.

Hamlin misses out

Stewart led Hamlin to the finish line by 0.625-seconds. Joey Logano was third followed by pole-sitter Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch. There were 12 lead changes among 12 drivers.

“I should have not let the bottom open,” said Hamlin, who posted his best finish at Sonoma. “I thought if I left the bottom open, maybe he’ll think he can get there a different kind of way. I just overshot the corner a little bit. Still a pretty good day. This is definitely a step in the right direction on road courses but I’m ultra-disappointed."

For Stewart, it wasn’t so much about where he won the race, but how he won it.

"They're all good; it doesn't matter where you get them. But, we ran close to those guys all day. We just got stuck back in traffic. It's pretty ironic the last one we got was in a Code 3 car and I'm proud to do it again. I'm proud of Mobil 1 and Bass Pro and everybody. It's just an awesome job.
"Especially at a place you're going to for the last time, it means a bunch. It's special, trust me."

On the edge of the Chase

Stewart missed the first eight races of 2016 as he recovered from injuries sustained in a dune buggy accident before the season started. While Stewart satisfied the first requirement of qualifying for the Chase by winning, the three-time champion must still established a position among the top 30 in Sprint Cup points. Stewart vaulted from 35th to 32nd in the standings, nine points behind 30th with his win.

Kevin Harvick maintained the point lead by 35 over Kurt Busch.

Clint Bowyer ignited the first of four cautions after an electrical issue sparked a fire in the No. 15 Chevy. Bowyer completed just five laps before climbing from his car. He finished 40th.

“It’s just a shame,” Bowyer said. “It caught on fire. Smoke is never good in the cockpit and it stinks. Hell, I couldn’t breathe.

“It’s terribly frustrating. This is my favorite race track and I’ve run really good at it. I don’t know.  It kind of sometimes inexcusable when stuff breaks that quick, but who knows what happened.  I’m sure a wire was rubbing on something or something and just shorted out and burnt up. It’s a shame.”

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