Jackie, i agree.
The whole contest between Edwards and Stewart over the chase was not only edge of the seat racing, it was conducted cleanly, with mutual reapect, and with a lot of class on track.
Edwards conduct after the race was superb. He had given it absolutely all he had, tried everything he knew, he left nothing on the table, neither did his crew, he had a good car that got everything out of, and as awesome as that was, it wasn't good enough to beat Stewart that day on that track. I thought Edwards conducted himself very well, walked out to tony's car on track to congratulate him, gave an interview that let you know he gave it all in a calm voice of near ultimate dissapointment. Lot of real life drama in that moment.
Stewart's race was the sort of thing you see in movie scripts brought to real life on the track. I mean the guy couldn't buy a break early in the race. Starts the race 3 points down. Hole in grill, fixed with out going down a lap but restarting in 40th place. Working back up only to be bumped to the back of the field again, passing something like 70 cars on track over the course of the race, encouraging his crew over the radio when a pitstop set him back again, and in the end, giving the whole field driving lessons on each restart. He starts 9th in the last restart, is in third in a couple of laps, passes Edwards for the lead a few laps later, and wins, but in between was something like 40 laps of ragged edge driving by both drivers with just enough gas to finish, lapped car traffic and all, and they both pulled it off mistake free finishing with Stewart just over a second in the lead. Stewart had to win the race to win the championship, and he did it. It was an amazing performance by both drivers.
Stewart also conducted himself with class after the race. I don't think he had enough gas left for a burnout.
All in all, I was impressed.
Fitch