Tony Stewart hasn’t been a man of many words lately. His season, since his last win to date at Daytona in July, hasn’t given the defending champion much to talk about.
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[/media-credit]In Homestead where the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will finish the 2012 season and where Stewart will relinquish his title rein, he again was short and sweet. Eliminated from contention, he’ll be left to watch as Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson battle for supremacy. A year removed from Stewart being the hottest driver in town, followed by a performance in the finale that will go down in history, the sun will set on his season quietly.
Calling his season disappointing, Stewart noted there were times to remember and forget. Not being able to defend his third championship has to leave a bitter taste in his mouth. Especially after how he and his No. 14 Office Depot / Mobile 1 team began their title defense.
Two wins in the first five races. Confidence and performance to pick up where they left off, enough to begin the talk about a title repeat. Yet, Stewart was never able to make that consistency last and again found himself fighting for his spot in the Chase field, and again tried to assess his team’s potential.
“I think the high point is probably winning at Las Vegas, winning at a track we hadn’t won at before was definitely a high point,” said Stewart on Friday at Homestead about his season. “A lot of places that we were so good at last year in the Chase, not being good this time and this year around was a little disappointing.”
Disappointing is an understatement – Stewart lit the Chase on fire last season. Leading 573 laps and winning five of the 10 races. But that success is a distant memory, Stewart and new crew chief Steve Addington have only led 42 laps in the last nine weeks and haven’t been to Victory Lane.
That place, Victory Lane, has been elusive to Stewart, not since Daytona in July has he stepped foot in one. With one race remaining in the season he sits ninth in points and was never a serious contender for this year’s title. While he’ll celebrate 500 NSCS starts on Sunday afternoon when he takes the green flag – something he said is neat and he’s proud of but joked makes him feel old – Stewart already has his sights sets on his 501st start and next season.
“We’ve got such a different car and different package next year, everybody just kind of starts over. I am discouraged that we are finishing this way, but not because of what it’s going to lead to next year,” said Stewart.
“Everybody is going to start with stuff that is totally different package wise than what we have. A totally new body that is obvious to everybody, but things underneath the car that the guys are doing to the cars this year that we are not going to be allowed to do next year.
“There are a lot of changes and it’s going to be a whole new learning process starting over in Daytona.”
