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Stewart wins New Hampshire Nationwide race

Jun 29, 2008 - 12:02 AM LOUDON, New Hampshire (Ticker) -- Tony Stewart recorded his NASCAR Nationwide Series-leading fifth win of the season in Saturday's Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Making just his seventh series start this season, Stewart averaged 109.028 miles per hour in a Toyota Camry.

It was the seventh career Nationwide victory for Stewart, who became the 22nd different winner in as many races here.

Stewart led for 75 laps and was in front when a spinout and crash by Greg Biffle on lap 199 brought out the caution flag, allowing "Smoke" to cruise into Victory Lane.

"Our last stop on lap 129 is what won the race for us," said Stewart, who took on just two tires while others stayed in the pits longer to change all four. "To gain track position while being able to stay up front and not have to overdrive the car or abuse the tires was the key to the win."

Denny Hamlin finished second in a Toyota for his fifth top-five finish of 2008.

Kyle Busch, the points leader in the Sprint Cup Series, placed third to give Toyota its first 1-2-3 finish in the series.

In 2008, Stewart's five wins, along with three for Busch, two for Hamlin and one by rookie Tony Logano, give Joe Gibbs Racing 11 of the 18 total victories on the Nationwide circuit this season.

"There have been four drivers to win in this car, so it's not the drivers - that's for sure," Stewart said. "We're the fortunate ones to be able to drive this thing."

The Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick and the Ford of Carl Edwards rounded out the top five.

"What more can you say about the Gibbs cars?" Edwards said. "It's pretty spectacular. Those guys are doing a great job.

"There are ups and downs in this sport and right now they're on the up side and we've just got to look at what they're doing and emulate them and try to get them by the end of the season."

Harvick won this race last year, while Edwards came in first in 2006.

Series points leader Clint Bowyer finished ninth in a Chevy while rookie pole-sitter Landon Cassill, who had to start at the rear because of an engine change, finished 34th in a Chevy.