KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Tony Stewart prefers winning races on raw speed, not fuel strategy. At least he had enough time to savor the experience as he puttered across the finish line to win Sunday's Banquet 400.

"I got to see the checkered flag for a really long time for once," said Stewart, who ran out of gas on the last lap, but had built up such a big lead that he was able to coast to victory.

After being eliminated from championship contention last month, Stewart and his crew were free to gamble on gas in the closing laps of the NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway. It paid off -- but just barely.

Stewart's tank ran dry on the last lap and he crawled across the finish line to win. As he crept past the flag stand, Stewart didn't immediately know whether anybody had passed him for the lead.  More