Bill Fleischman: Stewart's sizzling NASCAR start

PERHAPS Tony Stewart should change his nickname from "Smoke" to "Sizzle."

Stewart has won two of the season's first five Sprint Cup races. Combine his five victories in the 10 Chase races last year and he has seven W's in his last 15 races. That's sizzling! So much for concerns about his adjusting to new crew chief Steve Addington.

"Steve did an awesome job all day of the changes that he made," Stewart said after winning Sunday's rain-shortened race at California. "Every time he changed something, the car really responded well to it. That's when you know you have a real good race car under you, when you make little changes and it makes a big difference."

Addington, 47, free from the turmoil of serving as crew chief of the volatile Kurt Busch, is delighted to be with Stewart-Haas Racing.

"It's been a real enjoyment in my life to get involved with this race team," Addington said. "I really love to come to work and enjoy going to the racetrack."

What should worry Stewart's competitors is, he's a notoriously slow starter. He's usually more successful in the summer and fall. Until this year, Stewart had never won multiple races before May. Stewart's start has caught the attention of points leader Greg Biffle and other Cup racers.

"Obviously, it concerns us," Biffle said Wednesday on a conference call. "We're still trying to figure out what he did last year. Tony and I and Clint Bowyer were battling for that 12th position to get in the Chase. With three to four races to go, we were neck and neck.

"He made the comment [before the Chase] that he doesn't deserve a Chase spot, because they're not running good enough. It's funny how it went from that to winning five of the 10 [Chase races].

"It's obvious they've found something that's working for them. It's trickled down to [Ryan Newman], because he's running much better [10th in points].

"[Stewart] could win 12 to 15 races if whatever they're doing keeps working for them. It doesn't look like anyone can compete with him."

While Greg Biffle is happy to be leading the Sprint Cup standings, he has raced long enough to know he might not maintain his perch until the Chase begins in September.

"I know we probably won't lead the points [every week] up to the Chase," he said. "If that happens, I'm not going to let it take the wind out of our sails. We're going to work as hard as we can to keep the points lead or keep in the top five or top three."

Biffle credits crew chief Matt Puccia for the No. 16 Ford team's strong start.

"If anybody can take me to the championship, it's Matt Puccia," Biffle said. "He never gives up, never leaves a rock unturned, and is the hungriest guy I've seen in my life and the most focused to win a race."

Puccia, 35, is from Watertown, N.Y. He replaced Greg Erwin, a Hatboro native, midway last season. Biffle finished 16th a year ago. Erwin is now crew chief for Aric Almirola's No. 43 Ford team.

I'm sensing Fox Sports has one Waltrip too many on its NASCAR telecasts. Darrell and Michael Waltrip are insightful and entertaining analysts, but one should be enough.

Plus, Michael is a current car owner (Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin/Brian Vickers).

Aren't TV analysts supposed to be impartial? If one of Michael's drivers causes a wreck or commits a blunder, will he offer candid comments? Would one of his drivers criticize his team with the owner in the booth? Just askin'.

Pocono Raceway is hosting the inaugural Rapid Running Pocono Half-Marathon on Saturday, May 5. The finish line will be inside the racetrack.

For details check www.rapidrunning.com.