2016 NASCAR Pit Road Week 16: Sonoma

Weekly Review and Power Ranking

Toyota Save Mart 350

Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images

By Richard Tix

Eighty Four races. For a driver who had won 48 career NASCAR Cup races in his career, eighty four races without a win must have felt like a lifetime. From the fan's perspective it felt like it was ages ago that we got to witness an upbeat Tony Stewart in Victory Lane, so it must have felt even better to be Smoke on Sunday.

After multiple injuries, personal turmoil, and social beating and battering, Smoke finally rose for at least a moment at Sonoma Raceway.

Stewart made an early pit during the last set of stops because he was losing ground on a long run. Just when it looked like he was down and out because of the pit strategy luck turned around when Michael McDowell's car stalled out and NASCAR threw a caution. 

The yellow left Stewart with pretty fresh tires and the lead with 14 to go, which was a spot Smoke hadn't been in in quite some time.

To most NASCAR fans it was a sight to see. Even non Stewart fans started to focus in on what could be his winless streak coming to an end and some even turned into his cheer section. Stewart spent the next 14 laps battling off Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and what seemed to be all of Toyota.

After running nearly perfect and depending all the key passing spots on Sonoma, Stewart finally gave Hamlin an inch when he wheel hopped turn 7 with two laps to go. Fortunately for Stewart Hamlin couldn't take full advantage and still trailed him.

When it happened again on the final lap Stewart eventually gave the lead up to Hamlin and hope seemed to start to disappear. Everyone knew Stewart would do anything it took, but with Hamlin in defense mode would it be enough?

Turn 11 came and went in a matter of seconds, but the turn and that moment will forever stick in NASCAR fan's minds. Denny Hamlin missed his mark, came in too hard and missed the inside line leaving the door wide open for Smoke to get his nose into the corner and into Hamlin's side.

From there it was classic Tony Stewart not giving an inch and taking the win while beating Hamlin's door around the corner.

Win number 49 was well worth the wait, though I'm sure if you ask Smoke he would rather have had 10 wins in that time. Stewart added his name to the list of 2016 winners and now only has to make up nine, yes only nine, points to take over 30th place in the standings.

In his last season fans may get their wish and see Tony Stewart in the 2016 Chase. Toyota Save Mart 350 Race Results.

Pit Road Power Rankings Week 16 (Week 15)

1. Kevin Harvick (LW-1)- Not a huge threat on the day, Harvick was still up front consistently with an average running position of 10th. Finish: 6th
2. Kurt Busch (LW-2)- Ten straight top 10's, when will Kurt get a bit more credit for how consistent he is this season? He ran inside the top 10 most of the day at Sonoma. Finish: 10th
3. Joey Logano (LW-4)- Other than Tony Stewart, JoLo was the only ones to cut into Toyota's big day at the front. Late in the race Joey made some charging moves, but only enough to stick in the top 5. Finish: 3rd
4. Carl Edwards (LW-7)- Carl started on the Pole and had what looked like a winning car early and often (leading 24 laps). In the end he couldn't get past Hamlin and Truex to really contend (though he did finally pass Truex). Finish: 4th
5. Chase Elliott (LW-3)- The rookie gets a pass for Sonoma. It's no easy task coming to Sonoma as a rookie, but Chase kept it clean all day. Plus, he had six straight top tens coming into Sundays road course. Finish: 21st
6. Martin Truex Jr (LW-9)- Truex is a past Sonoma winner and he showed it Sunday. Before Hamlin charged at Stewart it was Martin trying to make his move. Finish: 5th
7. Brad Keselowski (LW-5)- Quiet day for BK. In fact, considering it was Sonoma he didn't run very well for most of the race. Finish: 15th 
8. Kyle Larson (LW-8)- Larson ran a ton of the race up front until he had trouble on pit road late. He still bounced back for a nice finish and continues his strong mid season surge. Finish: 12th
9. Matt Kenseth (LW-6)- Sonoma is one to forget for Kenseth, but when isn't it? In his career Sonoma has been a tough place for Kenseth to gain control of. Finish: 20th
10. Kyle Busch (LW-12)- Sunday at Sonoma was finally a step in the right direction for Rowdy. After a string of bad luck Kyle finally had a good race start to finish. Even though it wasn't enough it could be the start of another hot streak. Finish: 7th
11. Jimmie Johnson (LW-10)- Not a ton to say about JJ's day at Sonoma. Overall it was an average day with an average finish with JJ just being average. Look for a bounce back at Daytona. Finish: 13th
12. Tony Stewart (LW-NR)- Poor Newman, he drops out after finishing 8th, but this isn't about Newman. I couldn't let this spot pass by without having Smoke be apart of the rankings again. It wasn't just for the win, but it is also back to back top 10's (7th at Michigan). Finish: 1st

Dropped Out: Ryan Newman (LW-12)

Just Missed: Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, and Dale Earnhardt Jr