Originally published October 4, 2009 at 8:15 PM | Page modified October 4, 2009 at 10:16 PM
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Auto racing | Greg Biffle's strategy backfires in NASCAR event won by Tony Stewart
Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., had held off Tony Stewart and the rest of the field for much of Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race after changing two tires during some key pit stops.
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TODD WARSHAW / GETTY IMAGES
Tony Stewart celebrates with the checkered flag after winning Sunday's race in Kansas City, Kan.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., had held off Tony Stewart and the rest of the field for much of Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race after changing two tires during some key pit stops.
But as Biffle pulled his No. 16 Ford into his pit stall for his final stop in the Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway, he wanted four new tires for the finish. Biffle's crew chief, Greg Erwin, wanted to change two tires.
Biffle overruled Erwin and stuck four fingers out the window as he rolled to a stop — and it cost him. Stewart's crew changed two tires on his Chevrolet, enabling him to leave the pits ahead of Biffle and the other drivers near the front.
Stewart proceeded to win the third race in NASCAR's 10-race, 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Jeff Gordon was second and Biffle settled for third.
"I know what I did was wrong," said Biffle, who won in Kansas in 2007. "I know I made a mistake. But we're sure excited to be running good again, especially going to some tracks we like, like California."
Stewart, a two-time Cup champion, climbed one spot to fourth place in the points race.
Mark Martin, seventh in the race, leads second-place Jimmie Johnson by 18 points.
Biffle is eighth in the Chase, 114 points behind Martin. Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw was sixth in the race and is 11th in the Chase.
"We had a real good car on two tires," Stewart said, adding that it was "a no-brainer" to change two on the final pit stop because passing was difficult and track position was paramount.
Other races
• Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel led from start to finish to win Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, reviving his championship hopes.
Vettel finished ahead of Toyota's Jarno Trulli and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.
Series leader Jenson Button of Brawn GP was eighth, a place below teammate Rubens Barrichello. Button leads Barrichello by 14 points and Vettel by 16 with two races left.
• Rain forced NHRA officials to postpone the O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals eliminations in Millington, Tenn., until today.
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