While the Nationwide Series might seem like the kiddie version of NASCAR's top Sprint Cup Series, it's not exactly child's play. Nationwide, formerly known as the Busch Series, is the proving ground for a lot of rookies who haven't yet made it to NASCAR's top rung and are looking for a leg up. Still, a lot of the big-gun Sprint Cup champs who got their start in NASCAR's lesser series still run Nationwide for old time's sake (and extra cash), and today's Aaron's 312 at Talladega featured a star-studded lineup. Tony Stewart—in a slick candy-apple red Old Spice car that was a hundred times sexier than his Sprint Cup Great Pumpkin getup—totally dominated this warm-up race, leading the pack for 80 of the 117 laps and trading strategic paint with Dale Earnhardt Jr for much of the way. Through chaos of the final laps, which plunged Junior abruptly to 6th place while pulling David Stremme into 2nd, Smoke stayed the course and subsequently was able to give the crowd a scorching victory burnout that lived up to his nickname. Congrats to Tony for his first-ever Talladega win!
Tony on the infield jumbotron giving his victory circle interview. Photo courtesy Ernest White.
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