Coasting to a Victory

I've heard the phrase "coasting to victory", but I don't think I've ever actually seen it happen, but today, that's what happened in the Nextel Cup race in Kansas. Tony Stewart crossed the finish line at about 80 miles per hour and with the engine dead after he ran out of fuel with a little more than half a lap to go at the 1 1/2 mile track. At the point where he ran out he had an 18 second lead on 2nd place Casey Mears. Casey might have caught him before the finish line, but he ran out almost simultaneously. Both cars took the checkered flag without power.

One hard and fast rule in NASCAR - the first guy to the checkers wins, not necessarily the guy with the fastest car. Jimmy Johnson had the fastest car all day, but came up short on fuel and had to make a late pit stop. He finished 14th. Tony had been trying to save fuel for more than 60 laps and stretched it long enough to coast to the win.

Next week - Talladega Superspeedway. Forty three cars running 190 miles per hour, three-wide and separated from first to 43rd by about 2 seconds. You'll want to watch that one.