Filed under: Tony Stewart

Logically, we were supposed to be writing about Tony Stewart's growing pains as a new team owner-driver last year.

Instead, the two-time NASCAR champion-turned-team owner dazzled and amazed from the drop of the first green flag of 2009.

At this point last year, Stewart had driven his No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet to top-10 finishes in all but three of the first 11 races and was ranked second in the Sprint Cup Series championship. After the race in Dover, Del. -- Sunday's venue -- Stewart claimed the No. 1 spot in the standings, went on to win four races and led the points for 13 weeks until they were reset for the Chase for the Championship in September.

Learning curve? Stewart made this owner-driver thing look too easy.

Now at last, however, the challenges have presented themselves to Stewart, who in the last six races, has free-fallen 10 positions in the standings to 18th and sits 59 points out of the Chase top-12.

 

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