Tony Stewart: "I think they know we’re here and we mean business"

After a slow start, Tony Stewart rallied to a runner-up finish in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in a performance that cemented his position in the Top 30 of points.

Stewart, having competed in just 11 races this season, is now 28th in points and he has scored more points than seven drivers who have competed in every race this season.

I’m really, really proud of where this No. 14 team is right now

Tony Stewart

With his position in the championship Chase now virtually assured, it is full speed ahead for the Indiana native heading into next weekend’s Brickyard 400.

“I can promise you I’m not going to leave anything on the table next week,” Stewart said after the race. “But, you know, I haven’t been leaving anything on the table, anyway. What do I have to lose here? I have nothing to lose.

“We’re going to get everything we can get out of it and we’ll take what we can get at the end of the day, but we’re going to fight and claw and scrap just like everybody else.

“We’re dishing out what we’ve been taking for a while now. The guys who have been leaning on us – we’re leaning back on them and I think they know we’re here and we mean business now.”

Rookie crew chief acting like a veteran

Stewart said he is even more impressed with how quickly he and his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing team, led by crew chief Mike Bugarewicz have gelled this season.

Stewart has now finished seventh or higher – including a victory in Sonoma, Calif. – in three of his last four races. Take out his wreck at Daytona and he is averaging a fourth place finish over the past month.

“The chemistry is good. The atmosphere is good at the shop and at the track. Everything you want is there, all the ingredients are there, we just need to finish putting it all together,” Stewart said.

“I’m really, really proud of where this No. 14 team is right now.”

Racing Jeff Gordon one more time

Stewart’s final trip to Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a Cup driver may include an added bonus next week.

Should Dale Earnhardt Jr. not be cleared to compete, four-time series champion Jeff Gordon will drive his No. 88 Chevrolet at the Brickyard – something that would mean a lot to Stewart in his final season.

“I would love nothing more than that. I would rather see Dale Junior get back in the car because the Brickyard is a special place, more than anything and this comes from somebody who has been hurt twice and had to sit out,” Stewart said.

“I totally respect what he’s done. It shows maturity. He’s smart. He’s not only looking out for himself but he’s looking out or everyone he is racing with.

“But if Jeff comes back next week, it would be really, really cool to race Jeff one more time.”