Lowe's track no friend of Stewart's

NASCAR notes

Date published: 5/29/2006

By JIM McCONNELL

CONCORD, N.C--The Charlotte metropolitan area has become a hub of activity for most NASCAR teams and drivers, but Tony Stewart couldn't get out of here quickly enough.

A disappointing two-week stretch at Lowe's Motor Speedway ended prematurely for the Indiana native yesterday when Stewart crashed on lap 33 of the Coca-Cola 600 and wound up with a 42nd-place finish.

Stewart came to North Carolina second in Nextel Cup points behind Jimmie Johnson, then wrecked in all three races at Lowe's over the past two weekends and failed to complete even one.

His trouble started during the nonpoints Nextel All-Star Challenge last Saturday, when he got together with Matt Kenseth during the final 20-lap segment and finished 12th in the 20-car field.

Things took another turn for the worse in Saturday's Busch race. An apparent equipment malfunction sent Stewart's No. 33 careening into the wall just 10 laps into the Carquest Auto Parts 300.

He emerged from his car rubbing his right shoulder, but was cleared to start the Coca-Cola 600 after a routine exam at Carolinas Medical Center.

Stewart, who was obviously favoring that same shoulder after he exited his No. 20 car yesterday, said over his radio that a cut right-front tire had caused the crash.

"After the Busch wreck he was pretty sore. He was even more sore today, so we'll say a prayer and go to Dover next week and try to rebound," said Stewart's crew chief, Greg Zipadelli.

While Stewart was transported back to the hospital, his team hoped to repair the car and get it back into the race. The Home Depot team had NASCAR veteran Mike Bliss on hand in case Stewart was unable to race yesterday, but the car was ultimately too damaged to continue.

Stewart was treated and released.

So far this season, Nextel Cup rookie J.J. Yeley has been much more impressive racing the clock than other drivers.

Yeley, who drives the No. 18 Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing, qualified fourth for yesterday's Coca-Cola 600. It was the fourth time he started in the top-five in the first 12 points races of 2006.

He's also been the top rookie qualifier on six different tracks: California, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Texas, Martinsville, Talladega and Charlotte.

Follow us on

Date published: 5/29/2006