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Stewart Wins Pocono 500, Increases Sprint Cup Lead

Tony Stewart became the first driver to win a Sprint Cup event while competing for his own team since Ricky Rudd in 1998. The two-time Sprint Cup champion used the best of his fuel-saving strategy on Sunday to take the chequered flag at Pocono Raceway, therefore stretching his lead in the overall classification.

Stewart had the chance to start from pole position in the Pocono 500 on Sunday, as the rain dismissed all qualifying action on Saturday. However, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver had to replace his car following a first practice shunt on Saturday and was forced to start from the rear of the field.

As he knew only a fuel-saving strategy would bring him back into contention for a race win, he stayed on track more than anyone before him in the first part of the race. That got him a Top 10 spot by Lap 40, after which he immediately started putting pressure on the front runners.

Stewart last pitted on Lap 159, following the 5th caution of the day, and managed to rejoin the track ahead of pace-setter Carl Edwards. Although it was hard to believe the leader would not stop for refuel in the closing laps of the race, Stewart decided to take the chance and go for it.

Some 35 laps to the finish line, the 6th (and final) caution of the day was over and the frontrunners were already thinking at stopping for refuel. Everyone but Stewart, who preferred to switch off his engine on the long straights – in order to preserve fuel – in the closing laps of the race in order to retain his leading position.

With everyone behind him stopping for refuel (and praying he'll do the same), the Stewart Haas driver secured a decent time frame between him and his closest rival in order to continue with his fuel-saving technique. He eventually got to the finish line ahead of Edwards, while David Reutimann had to settle for 3rd place.

It's hard you hate to have to do that and you hate to be in that situation but that's kind of the situation the weather put us in there. We're just thankful we could make it. That's due to Hendrick horsepower and their engine department. They make good power and they make good mileage too,” said Stewart in the Victory Lane.

The top 5 at Pocono was completed by Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman, followed by Marcos Ambrose, Jimmie Johnson, Juan Montoya, Jeff Burton and Sam Hornish Jr. Stewart therefore extended his lead on top of the point standings, as he's now 71 points ahead of second placed Jeff Gordon and 103 points ahead of reigning Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.
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