Stewart Wins Race, Jarrett Clinches Title

It was merely a formality, but that didn’t make it any less sweet for Dale Jarrett.

On a day when rookie Tony Stewart won his second consecutive race, Jarrett finished fifth in the Pennzoil 400 at Homestead, Fla., locking up his first Winston Cup on Sunday.

“Fantastic!” Jarrett yelled after emerging from his No. 88 Ford. “I’ve just got to thank God for the talent on this race team and putting me here with such great people.”

Jarrett came into the inaugural Pennzoil 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway needing to finish only eighth or better to close out runner-up Bobby Labonte in the championship chase.

He stayed in the top 10 throughout the 267-lap race and finished fifth. He goes into the season finale next week in Atlanta 211 points ahead of Labonte, with a maximum of 185 remaining.

Jarrett’s consistent performance this season--four victories, 23 top fives and 28 top-10 finishes in 33 starts--gave Robert Yates his first title since he became a car owner in 1989.

Jarrett, 43, and his father, Ned, who won two series championships, join Lee and Richard Petty as the only father-son combinations to win NASCAR titles.

The younger Jarrett, considered simply a journeyman early in his career, blossomed into a star when he moved into the No. 88 car in 1996. He had finished third, second and third in the last three years.

Stewart, who led four times for 43 laps, is the first NASCAR driver to win three races in his rookie season, breaking the mark of two set by the late Davey Allison in 1987.

After the two exchanged leads several times, Stewart moved in front for the final time on lap 258, winning by 5.289 seconds, nearly a full straightaway.

Stewart turned in an average speed of 140.335 mph and he collected $278,265.

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Wes Bullock of Indianapolis battled with Eddie Van Meter for much of the 50-lap Action American Race Truck Series race, edged by him for the last time on lap 41 and won the AARTS national final before 4,258 at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday night.

Jim Warden of Anaheim took the lead from Eddie Secord on lap 19 and won the 30-lap MSRA Pro-4 modifieds race. Tony Green of Oak Hills led all 50 laps to win the Mechanix Wear speed truck race. T.K. Karvasek of North Hills won the 15-lap Figure Eight race.