Stewart starts, finishes first in N'wide season opener

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Polesitter Tony Stewart repelled a strong challenge from teammate Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the Camping World 300 Nationwide Series race Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Stewart surged to the lead on Lap 117 of 120 and stayed there as the rest of the field diced for position behind him. On the final lap, Busch blocked Earnhardt's last-ditch attempt to improve his position and all but assured the victory for Stewart, who crossed the finish line .259 seconds ahead of Busch, with Earnhardt .412 seconds back (watch video).

Camping World 300

Official Results

Pos.	Driver	Make
1.	Tony Stewart	Toyota
2.	Kyle Busch	Toyota
3.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet
4.	Brian Vickers	Toyota
5.	Matt Kenseth	Ford
6.	Bryan Clauson	Dodge
7.	Greg Biffle	Ford
8.	Denny Hamlin	Toyota
9.	David Ragan	Ford
10.	Carl Edwards	Ford

• Race: Results | Photos | Videos

Brian Vickers ran fourth, followed by Matt Kenseth, rookie Bryan Clauson, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan and defending series champion Carl Edwards.

The Joe Gibbs Racing teammates dominated the action, with Busch leading 47 laps at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, and Stewart 46.

"We were battling the balance of the car, but this thing was so fast down the straightaway," Stewart said of his No. 20 Toyota. "Once we got up front, it actually helped my car turn."

Busch had the lead on Lap 111 when a multi-car crash in Turn 4 behind the lead pack brought out the fourth caution of the race. Steve Wallace spun after contact with the No. 88 Chevy of Brad Keselowski triggered a wreck that damaged seven cars. The race restarted with six laps remaining with Busch in the lead (watch video).

Vickers, Martin Truex Jr. and Busch battled for the top spot until Stewart went to the point.

"It's a shame that we came in second with such a great racecar," said Busch, who also came in second in Friday's Truck Series race. "But the 20 was fast, too, and Tony Stewart's the man."

Earnhardt agreed.

"The situation was that you've got two great racecars with two great drivers in front of me," said Earnhardt, whose crew had to replace the rear decklid and spoiler after the No. 5 Chevy failed pre-qualifying inspection. "Tony says I'm one of the best restrictor-plate drivers, but he's right there with me."

The race was caution-free until Lap 55, when David Gilliland's Ford broke loose in Turn 2 after contact from Greg Biffle, slammed the wall, slid down the track and collected the Chevrolet of Mark Green. Biffle's No. 16 Ford also sustained minor front-end damage during the accident (watch video).

The caution bunched the field, depriving the trio of Truex, Vickers and Busch of a lead of more than eight seconds they had opened over Clint Bowyer and Stewart. It also trapped the Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick one lap down, as Harvick had made an unscheduled pit stop after his crew failed to fill his fuel cell fully on an earlier green-flag stop.

After a restart on Lap 59, Busch and Truex battled for the lead until Busch took control seven laps into the run. Busch stayed out front, with Stewart locked to his rear bumper, until Marcos Ambrose shredded his right rear tire on the backstretch, bringing out the second caution of the race on Lap 78.

Stewart won the race off pit road for a restart on Lap 82 and kept his car out front until sheet metal falling from Ambrose's car in Turn 2 caused the third caution on Lap 97. With quick work on pit road, Busch led the field to a restart on Lap 101, followed by Earnhardt, Stewart, Vickers and David Reutimann.