Sunoco Pit Move of the Race: Daytona

If Saturday's Pepsi 400 was the Pepsi 375, Greg Zipadelli would have left Daytona a genius.

As it was, Tony Stewart's crew chief left as a gutsy leader whose gamble paid off -- a little.

	Tony Stewart and Greg Zipadelli

With 30 laps to go, while a long night was turning into morning, crew chiefs were lurking up and down pit road, trying to get drafting partners for the final race to the checkers.

Zipadelli made a deal -- between himself and his driver.

Stewart started 17th on Saturday, but made steady progress all night, spending much of the race's second half in the top 10. When the final caution flew on Lap 138, Zipadelli made his move.

As the leaders were taking four tires, Zipadelli decided Stewart would take just two. It was a decision that had produced results for Scott Wimmer in February's Daytona 500. Instead of settling for a top-15 finish, Wimmer finished third in the Great American Race.

On Saturday, in the short term, the call worked for the 20 team. When pit stops cycled through, Stewart found himself in front, but worried.

"I'm feeling awfully alone out here," said Stewart over the radio.

VIDEO CLIPS Stewart gets track position during the final stops Play video

To which Zipadelli said, "Keep your eyes on your mirror."

"That's the problem," replied Stewart. "I don't like what I'm seeing."

Stewart had plenty of cause for concern. Kevin Harvick was leading a freight train of cars that included Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Mark Martin, Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip. All had taken four tires, and Gordon, Waltrip and Earnhardt had combined to lead 134 laps.

As the pack jockeyed for position, Stewart was able to temporarily expand his lead. In the end, however, teammates Gordon and Johnson were able to pass Stewart with seven laps to go.

Still, Stewart crossed the line fifth.

"It's not a pretty sight watching a dot behind you get really big all of a sudden," said Stewart. "It's hard because there's nothing you can do about it.

"I figured the whole line would go by us, but they caught me at the wrong spot on the track coming off of (Turn) four."

Stewart said there was optimism early in the run, but it didn't take long for things to change.

"It actually got us going a little bit there and I thought we might have a shot at winning, but the car just kept getting tighter and tighter, and once they all got by it made it even tighter yet."

Still, Stewart left Daytona pleased.

"It was fun," he said. "It was good to get up there in the top five today. It was a big improvement from where the car was in happy hour to race time."