Tony Stewart pilots the #14 Bass Pro Chevy on Sunday at Martinsville (photo credit: Tony Stewart Official Store Facebook/Mike Calamungi CIA Stock)
I have been saying for years- Martinsville is my favorite track I have never been to. I LOVE to watch races at the crazy little paper-clip shaped track. The speeds maybe slower than a mile-and-a-half track BUT the racing action is much better. (Another reason I like Phoenix so much too- the racing action is awesome there).
Tony Stewart at Martinsville this weekend. (Photo Credit: Tony Stewart Official Store Facebook/Don Grassmann/CIA Photo)
Sunday’s race was a prime example of why I love Martinsville. The quality of the racing is action packed and entertaining. And of course, I am going to say it was a great race because it was good awesome to see Tony up front and in contention for a solid top five (and even the lead) more than once during the race. The team even overcame at least one rough pit stop- but Tony stayed upbeat and told the team that he would get them back. And indeed he did- one right away as he kindly pointed out over the radio nearly just in case we didn’t see that. But Tony was actually driving like Tony Stewart in that he was competitive and able to – my favorite part of the whole race…was not the leading (okay I loved seeing him lead twice I really REALLY did) but was the pass to the outside Tony pulled on Joey Logano. I don’t remember the lap number or anything like that. THAT is Tony Stewart right there- passing where other people generally aren’t passing. Whoo! Tony qualified 4th- he finished 4th- but it was a great race- and he is now actually 25 in the points.
AND- Tony won not one but TWO contingency awards for the race at Martinsville! He won the Freescale Wide Open award AND the Mobil 1 Driver of the Race! Whoohoo Tony! That’s my driver!!
The race winner was Dale Jr- who got his first grandfather clock. The highest placing chase driver would be Jeff Gordon who finished the race in second- hot on Dale’s heels. It was a good race to have a HMS 1-2 finish.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Obi-Wan in the chase (get it- you’re our only hope) is Kevin Harvick- who finished Martinsville an unfortunate 33rd after getting involved in a spin during the race and suffering extensive car damage.
Notes about Martinsville:
I don’t really have any notes about Martinsville except to apologize for the late posting of this. I do, however, have two favorites from the race. First is this photo of Tony post-race posted by Vince Welch on twitter. I think the expression on Tony’s face says it all:
Tony is all smiles after the race on Sunday at Martinsville. (Photo Credit: Vince Welch Twitter @vincewelch)
The next is my favorite quote from Tony’s post race. If I could tattoo it on me I would (that’s a tad of an exaggeration- I already have my tattoo planned out and this quote is not in it):
Thanks, most of all, to our fans. They’ve been plowing a tough road for the last 18 months, and this top-five is for the fans more than anybody. — Tony Stewart, PostRace Martinsville 10-26-14
LOVE THAT!
And yes- I do have a gratuitous Tony Stewart picture for you:
Tony stands in the garage at Martinsville. (Photo credit: Tony Stewart Official Store/Don Grassmann/CIA Photo)
This weekend we are racing at Texas…where everything is bigger.
