FORT WORTH, TEXAS
When Tony Stewart stood up after his postrace interview, a full-length boxing robe was draped over his shoulders.
Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage then put his hands on the race winner’s shoulders and bounced along behind Stewart out of the room.
While the “ Texas Title Fight” fully lived up to its billing with the top two contenders finishing 1-2 and Carl Edwards having his points lead trimmed to three, there are still two rounds left in what has become quite a fight for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.
“Definitely, we wanted to beat Tony and pad that lead a little bit,” Edwards said. “At the end of the day, we can walk out of here with our heads up. We’re still the points leader. … It’s going to be a great battle.”
But Stewart has plenty of momentum on his side after racing to his second consecutive victory, and winning for the fourth time in eight Chase races. He led 173 of 334 laps and winning the fastest of 22 Cup races at Texas (152.705 mph).
“ Tony raced me harder than he’s ever raced me,” said Kasey Kahne, who finished third.
No need for any more verbal jabs by Stewart, who after winning at Martinsville a week earlier said Edwards “better be worried” the last three weeks of the season.
“I’m pretty sure what we did on the race track said everything we needed to tell him today. I don’t know how you top that,” Stewart said. “The funny thing, I don’t feel like I have to say anything. I feel like I’ve already got it done.”
The Chase goes next week to Phoenix, where the track has been reconfigured and resurfaced since Stewart was seventh and Edwards 28th there in February in the second race this season, and then to Homestead- Miami Speedway for the finale. Edwards won both of those races at the end of last season.
Edwards is the points leader for the fifth week in a row, and the Roush Fenway driver has been in the No. 1 spot after 20 of 34 races.
“ We’re very fortunate to have led the points for as long as we have. … I have a certain comfort level with it. We’ve watched the guys make runs and fall away,” Edwards said. “I don’t underestimate (Stewart) for a second. I know how good they are. But we’re going to be good as well.”
Edwards’ only win this season came eight months ago at Las Vegas, where Stewart was the runner-up. But Edwards has 17 top-five finishes, and his lowest in the chase was 11th at Talladega.
Stewart didn’t even have a win this season before opening the 10- race Chase with victories at Chicagoland and New Hampshire. Before now doing it twice in less than two months, Stewart hadn’t won consecutive races since July 2007.
His focus is set on winning a third Cup championship, and becoming the first person not named Jimmie Johnson to win the title since 2005 — when Stewart won while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing before becoming a driverowner.
“I still stand firm that we’re not counting on (Edwards) to make mistakes,” Stewart said. “We’re controlling our destiny. Today is a perfect example of that. We’re worried about what we’re doing. … It’s theirs to lose now. But I don’t know if they have a choice now.”
They were in close vicinity of each other throughout the race after starting nose-totail. Stewart qualified fifth and Edwards seventh.
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