Tony Stewart

Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart's car was impounded yesterday because it didn't meet specifications, a punishment never before handed out by NASCAR. Stewart was forced to use his backup car at the opening practice for tomorrow's Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. He qualified 22d in the 43-car field, with Bobby Labonte on the pole. The Joe Gibbs Racing entry failed inspection because it didn't meet the exact specifications for "the area around the back of the car, back window to back deck," NASCAR president Mike Helton said.

DOVER, Del. - A month ago, Tony Stewart showed up at Atlanta Motor Speedway angry at the world. His Stewart-Haas Racing team was struggling to find a way to make the No. 14 Chevrolet competitive, and Stewart's patience was wearing thin. A berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup was on the line, but the 13-year veteran openly fretted that even if he made it into NASCAR's top 12, he'd more than likely be a pretender than a contender. Then something happened - and to this day Stewart can't or won't put his finger on exactly what changed his fortunes - to transform his Impala into the class of the field.

Drenched with soda and beer after claiming his second Nextel Cup championship in four seasons, Tony Stewart was asked to make a statement when he entered the media center late Sunday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "Let's get this thing over with as quick as possible," he said with a devilish grin. "I've got a lot of beer to drink with my crew. " What, you were expecting NASCAR's bad boy-turned-choirboy to say he was headed to Disney World? Presumably, he left a wake-up call because the party was to continue yesterday with a flight to New York for television appearances, including a taping of the Late Show with David Letterman that is scheduled to air on Friday.

MID-MAY, 11 races into the lengthy Sprint Cup season, is an ideal time to assess the surprises and disappointments thus far. Topping the surprises list is Matt Kenseth. In his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing, Kenseth has won three of the first 11 races. That Kenseth (27 career Cup wins) is off to a blazing start with JGR isn't a total shock. However, getting up to speed with a new team sometimes takes a while. Kenseth and crew chief Jason Ratcliff have immediately clicked, winning the season's third race together at Las Vegas.

THIS WEEK'S RACE Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, Calif. When: Sunday, 3 p.m. TV/Radio: TNT/WNPV (1440-AM) Race course: 1.99-mile, 12-turn road course Race distance: 110 laps/350 kilometers (219 miles) Race forecast: sunny, mid-70s Last year's winner: Kurt Busch Last year's pole winner: Joey Logano, 93.256 mph Track qualifying record: Jeff Gordon, 94.325 mph (June 2005) Track facts: Kurt Busch led four times for 76 laps, including the last 23, to win last year's race.

NASCAR fans will be able to check out the No. 14 Chevrolet Impala driven by three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the opening of the All Seasons Car Wash and Lube at 6722 Ridge Ave. in Roxborough. Customers will be able to take photos with the car, check under the Impala's hood, hear the engine roar, and test their skills with an arcade-style NASCAR driving simulator. Mayor Nutter and Roxborough politicians, including Fourth District City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. and State Rep. Pamela DeLissio, are expected to attend.

THIS WEEK'S RACE Lenox Industrial Tools 301 New Hampshire Motors Speedway Loudon, N.H.   When: Sunday, 1 p.m. TV/Radio: TNT/WNPV (1440-AM) Race course: 1.058-mile oval Race distance: 301 laps/318.458 miles Race forecast: partly cloudy, high 80s Last year's winner: Ryan Newman Last year's pole winner: Newman, 135.232 mph (track record) Track facts: Newman led six times for 119 laps (including the final 72)

As the laps wound down in Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400, Kyle Busch looked like a lock to pick up his fourth career Nextel Cup victory. Then Kevin Harvick stole the show - and the win - by willing his No. 29 Chevrolet to the front with less than two miles to go. But that wasn't the biggest shock of the night at Richmond International Raceway. When the race to determine the Chase for the Nextel Cup participants had ended, so had Tony Stewart's bid to repeat as champion.

Price Chopper 400 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kan. When: Sunday, 1 p.m. TV/Radio: ESPN/WNPV (1440-AM), WDSD (94.7-FM) Race course: 1.5-mile oval Race distance: 400 miles/267 laps Forecast: Sunny, 60 degrees 2009 winner: Tony Stewart 2009 polesitter: Mark Martin, 175.758 mph Track qualifying record: Matt Kenseth, 180.856 mph (Oct. 8, 2005) Track facts: Richard Childress Racing lost an appeal yesterday to overturn the 150-point penalty incurred by driver Clint Bowyer for violations cited after the New Hampshire race, the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

LOUDON, N.H. - Tony Stewart made it 2-for-2 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, pulling ahead when Clint Bowyer ran out of gas with two laps left to win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway yesterday. Stewart is on a roll when the season matters most, following last week's Chase opening victory at Chicagoland Speedway with another strong performance at New Hampshire. Both of his victories this season have come in the Chase and have propelled him to the top of the points standings.

MID-MAY, 11 races into the lengthy Sprint Cup season, is an ideal time to assess the surprises and disappointments thus far. Topping the surprises list is Matt Kenseth. In his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing, Kenseth has won three of the first 11 races. That Kenseth (27 career Cup wins) is off to a blazing start with JGR isn't a total shock. However, getting up to speed with a new team sometimes takes a while. Kenseth and crew chief Jason Ratcliff have immediately clicked, winning the season's third race together at Las Vegas.

RICHMOND, Va. - Kurt Busch ran up front all night, and even led 36 laps. Then came the finish, which he described as a free-for-all, and with him right in the middle of it. Busch wound up ninth Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway. He also ended the race mad at Matt Kenseth for moving him out of the way in the two-lap sprint to the finish, and then had a door-slamming battle with Tony Stewart on pit road. Kevin Harvick plowed through traffic on the final restart, driving from seventh to Victory Lane.

A RECURRING theme in NASCAR is a resident villain. Drivers in "black hats" have included Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Kurt and Kyle Busch. Say hello to the 2013 villain, Joey Logano: "Here's our black-hat selection, Mr. Logano. What size do you wear?" The Connecticut native seems like a nice, young guy. But there is a sense among some in NASCAR that Logano, 22, is spoiled. Starting at age 6, his racing was financed by his father, Tom. A couple of years ago, after encountering a problem racing with Kevin Harvick, Logano said it was clear who wears the firesuit in the Harvick family, a clear reference to Harvick's wife, DeLana.

Tums Fast Relief 500 Martinsville Speedway Martinsville, Va. When: Sunday, 2 p.m. TV/Radio: ESPN/WNPV (1440-AM) Race course: .526-mile oval Race distance: 500 laps/263 miles Race forecast: cloudy, upper 50s Last year's winner: Tony Stewart Last year's pole winner: none, inclement weather Track qualifying record: Stewart, 98.083 mph (October 2005) Track facts: Matt Kenseth has won two of the last three Chase races, climbing from last in points to ninth.

TALLADEGA, Ala. - Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth won Sunday at Talladega Superpeedway, where a last-lap crash turned defending NASCAR champion Tony Stewart upside down. Stewart was leading the final lap but had no drafting partner as the field closed in on him. He was looking for help when he misjudged how much room he had and turned in front of Michael Waltrip. Waltrip hooked Stewart's bumper, and it triggered a massive accident that sent Stewart's car sailing on its side over the field.

TALLADEGA, Ala. - The championship contenders said Talladega Superspeedway would be the wild-card race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. That was an understatement. Talladega delivered yet another "big one" Sunday, when defending NASCAR champion Tony Stewart triggered a 25-car pileup as he tried to protect the lead. His bid to block a long line of traffic on the last lap backfired, and his car was sent sailing through the air in a chaotic crash that collected 10 of the 12 title contenders.

WHEN NASCAR launched the Chase for the Championship concept 8 years ago, the idea was to create drama in the season's final stages. The plan worked. Last year, NASCAR expanded the Chase to 12 drivers, adding two wild cards. More suspense. The Chase field features the top 10 in points after 26 races, plus the two drivers from 11th to 20th place with the most wins. With two races remaining before the Chase starts, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch hold the wild cards. Here are the wild-card standings, with wins in parentheses and the points out of 10th place: 11. Kasey Kahne (2)

BRISTOL, Tenn. - With a two-handed toss of his helmet, Tony Stewart brought back everything that had been missing at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was the rock 'em, sock 'em style of racing that made the Tennessee bullring the toughest ticket in NASCAR. Progressive banking added in 2007 diluted the action, and fans turned their backs on Bristol in droves. Yet another disappointing crowd in March was the final straw for track owner Bruton Smith, who ordered changes to the track surface in the hopes the action would pick up and the fans would return.

THERE WAS NO fire or rain. Still, another frantic finish at Daytona International Speedway. Tony Stewart emerged the winner, charging past Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth on the last lap and holding on as the challengers stacked up behind him Saturday night in one of Daytona's trademark wrecks. "I don't even remember what happened that last lap," Stewart said. He has 18 victories at Daytona, second only to the late Dale Earnhardt. Stewart qualified second but started near the back of the field because his time was thrown out by NASCAR when his Chevrolet failed inspection.