Stewart — and about 20,000 spectators — waited through a pair of strong storms that delayed the racing for nearly 4 1/2 hours. Action resumed at 1:30 a.m. with the majority of the die-hard racing fans back in their seats.
They didn’t leave them again until standing to cheer Stewart’s first Kings Royal victory in the 32nd running of the event.
“I’m kind of numb. It’s definitely my biggest win ever and I actually told myself coming into this weekend this is definitely the best shot I ever had at winning big races,” said Stewart, who swept the weekend by winning the Knight Before the Kings Royal Friday.
Co-car owner and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kyle Larson joined Stewart on the victory lane stage before heading off to New Hampshire for Sunday’s Cup race.
Two-time Kings Royal winner and World of Outlaws points leader Donny Schatz started second and looked dominant again. The North Dakota driver, who had won 20 of the first 45 WoO races, inherited the lead when pole-sitter Tim Shaffer blew an engine five laps in the 40-lap feature.
Schatz inherited the lead and reeled off the next 30 laps in front. Stewart started closing the gap and soon they were racing side-by-side. Schatz and Stewart were battling for the lead when Schatz ran out of gas. His sprint sputtered, allowing Stewart to shoot past.
“I actually thought I had a legitimate shot at Donny there,” Stewart said. “I knew everyone had to be getting close on fuel.”
A final red flag stop on lap 38, which allowed the drivers to refuel, set up Stewart’s green-white-checkered finish.
Jason Johnson, Rico Abreu, Sammy Swindell and Daryn Pittman rounded out the top five. Schatz finished sixth and defending champ Kerry Madsen ninth. Paige Polyak, who joined Erick Crocker (2004) as the second woman to qualify for the Kings Royal, finished 11th.
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