Stewart is points leader for first time in career

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- After a tumultuous season filled with negativity, you'd think Tony Stewart would be elated with top-billing in the Winston Cup Series points drama. He's never held the top spot, after all.

Thing is, he simply doesn't care. Not yet, anyway.

"Being the favorite doesn't mean a darn thing to me, to be honest, as far as winning the points," said Stewart, whose second place finish Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway propelled him into the points lead for the first time in his career.

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"Does it mean a lot to be leading right now? It means a lot from my team standpoint. I've led points championships before. The day I want to be leading is the Sunday at Homestead."

With Homestead comes the season finale. Six races stand between the present and the title. Stewart is all too aware that six races is more than enough time to fall out of contention.

If he's leading come mid-November, don't ask him how it feels. The answer is obvious.

"What do you think winning the championship would mean?" he said. "It would mean more than anything. It's a question that doesn't even need to be asked.

Everybody in this garage area is searching for a Winston Cup championship - even guys that have won it three or four times. Everybody wants to keep winning Winston Cup championships. That's what we're all striving for."