Tony Stewart and his team escaped disaster after trouble in the pits and a scare from the car's transmission. Credit: Autostock

Stewart rattles way to sixth-place finish

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- The obituary on Tony Stewart's title hopes was penned at Talladega, but the death notice has been put on hold.

Stewart staved off near-title elimination with a remarkable recovery in the EA Sports 500 that saw him overcome a transmission problem before the race even reached halfway.

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On Lap 60, Stewart was coming in for a routine stop under yellow when he overshot his pits. Stewart quickly threw his Chevy into reverse, pitted and rejoined the field.

But Stewart radioed that his gears were rattling badly, and crew chief Greg Zipadelli brought the car back in. The car was jacked up and Stewart's Joe Gibbs Racing crew prepared to install a new transmission, but Stewart was able to continue without going to the garage.

VIDEO Victory Lane Dale Jr. takes the points lead with a win at Talladega Top Finishers Gordon, Sadler, Kenseth, Jarrett on their performances Wild Finish Crashes and a comeback by Dale Jr. in the final laps Late Caution B. Labonte and Marlin wreck during a dash for pit road Early Exit Jimmie Johnson scores a DNF in the EA Sports 500 Multi-car Wreck Mayfield takes another blow in his pursuit of a title

"Something broke in it when we missed the box," said Zipadelli. "Knock on wood, but I have not had a transmission failure in six years, if anybody's stuff was going to last, it was going to be ours."

The car eventually did a rare thing in Nextel Cup Racing -- it actually got a little bit better, and with the crew pushing him out of the pit box the rest of the way, he finished sixth.

The finish kept Stewart from losing major ground in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Instead of losing at least 50 points to leader Dale Earnhardt Jr., Stewart instead lost just 17 points.

It was his second straight sixth-place finish.

Stewart actually stayed out and led four laps before coming in for a splash of gas on Lap 180, he was still running second after the pit cycle, thanks to a textbook Talladega move where he passed four cars on the low side.

But Stewart was shuffled back in the closing minutes while vying for the lead. .

"We went to the inside of (winner Dale Earnhardt) Junior and no one went with us," Zipadelli said. "That is how it is."