DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Tony Stewart edged Clint Bowyer to claim the season's first Nationwide Series race Saturday at the Daytona International Speedway for a fourth straight year.
Stewart nipped pole-sitter Bowyer by 0.007 seconds in a race decided after a track record-tying 35 lead changes.
Stewart had to pit unexpectedly during a caution period with less than 15 laps remaining. He was in the 11th spot for the final restart with six laps to go and hooked up with Landon Cassill to advance through the field.
Bowyer was leading until the final lap. Stewart and Landon Cassill were riding on the outside lane when Cassill pushed Stewart well enough for him to cross the finish line only a foot ahead of Bowyer.
The victory allowed Stewart to move into a tie with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the second-most Nationwide wins at Daytona at seven.
Cassill came in third, Earnhardt took the fourth spot and Reed Sorenson completed the Top 5 finishers.
