the other 41 drivers pulled over and let Tony Stewart and Mark go
one-on-one for the 312 miles.That would be the courteous thing to do, would it not?
It certainly would be simplify the run for the Winston Cup championship. Today at the Phoenix International Raceway, Mark gets one last chance to cut into Stewart's 112-point lead or set up setup Stewart's easily clinchable title next weekend at Homestead.
Rookie Ryan New man starts on the pole (what, again?), But he's capitalized only once to win six pole starts.
The real drama surrounds Stewart and Mark, who have distanced themselves from four other contenders now in a battle for third place. Mark starts seventh in the No. 6 Ford; Stewart starts 16th in th No. 20 Pontiac.
They have both voiced similar strategies for today's race; Go all out, try to win.
Mark bristled the other day when someone suggested that NASCAR's penalty that cost him 25 points for an illegal spring last weekend gives him extra motivation in this race.
"Shame on me if there was anything that could motivate me more than I am already motivated," Mark said.
But he stops short of considering this a dream season.
"It's easy to forget that a year ago we were racing for 12th in points, and right now we are racing for first or second.," Mark said. "I really had a good time the first third of the season, and the old expectations started kicking in. And then it doesn't matter how good you do, it's not good enough.
Mark has finished second three times in the championship race.
Stewart, the moody driver who has spent much of the year on probation for various mesdeeds, seems to be relaxed as he prepares to win a stock-car championship to go with his 1997 Indy Racing League title.
"I haven't changed anything up to now", Stewart said. "Why would I change
now? It's just race 35 of 36 and another week in paradise. What part of
'we haven't changed anything' is hard for all of you [media] guys to
understand?"Trust me, we aren't doing anyhing different. I'm using the same toothbrush I used three weeks ago. I'm still on the same roll of toothpaste even. We've washed the underwear. We're still changing one pair each day, so that's comforting to know."
Stewart said he will try to win today and not points-race, the practice of playng it safe to protect a lead.
"Going out and winning races, being competitive and having top-fives as many times as we could has gotton us to where we are now. Our approach right now is no different than it has been. There's a reason we've gotten to this point. It's because we raced hard. You don't change that formula now with two races to go."
Stewart already has had an eventful week.
A plane Stewart owns was taking off from an airport outside of San Antonio, where it stopped to refuel, when it struck a deer on the runway.
"I was in the back and I heard a thump when there wasn't supposed to be a thump," Stewart said. "I went up front to ask what the thump was."
The plane was damaged; Stewart rented another one to continue to Las Vegas.
Stewart, who has dodged one controversy after another this season, suddenly had second thoughts about sharing the deer anecdote. "Please do not print that in your papers," he said. "I'll be hearing from all the animal activists."
