Tony Stewart 2014 Review
By Richard Tix
Season Grade: D
Tony Stewart had races 15 total season heading into the 2014 season. In all 15 years he had at least one Sprint Cup win:
"Smoke is Chasing Richard Petty's 18 straight seasons with at least one win. Stewart, even after only racing in 21 races, is at 15 straight seasons (which is every year in his Cup career). Last year and 2008 are the only seasons he had not had multiple victories in a season. Other then 2006 (11th), 2013 was the only time he finished outside the top 9 in standings."- Season Preview
Well, 2014 brought a sad end to that streak for Smoke. Most of the season he still didn't look like himself. Maybe it was a hurting leg to start the year or maybe it was other off the Sprint Cup track incidents that had his mind at bay. One way or another, Tony Stewart just wasn't at the level we have come to know.
Some fans doubted Tony Stewart'c ability to come back after his injury. Myself, I thought there was no way he would be slowed down and that he would come back strong in 2014:
"I have no doubt in my mind Tony Stewart will come back, make the Chase, and possibly push for his 4th Championship. The only question is, when will he get his first win of 2014? When will he get 50 career wins?" - Preseason Preview
I was obviously wrong about 2014. Smoke had season lows in wins, top 5's (3), top 10's (7), and average finish (20) even though he raced 33 of 36 races compared to 21 in 2013. It may or may not have been a low point for Tony, only he knows, but he ended the season with a silver lining.
That silver lining? A driver that was part of the team he own's (and his buddy) won the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. So, no matter all the up's and downs he has had the last two years, Smoke can take pride in that while he looks to bounce back.
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