Stewart captures Daytona IROC race

Tony Stewart proved he knows his way around every inch of Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway by winning the International Race of Champions event on the road course Thursday night.

Stewart, who has seven career victories on the superspeedway, started 11th but wasted no time working his way through the 12-car field. He was third after the first full lap, and took the lead on the fourth lap.

“The guys told us to watch out for the first corner because of cold brakes,” he said. “So we just lifted early and everybody starting wrecking. We were fourth, and then got up to third, and just kind of worked our way forward after that.”

It put him out front and away from all the spins behind him from drivers not accustomed to road courses. This was the first road course race for the IROC Series in 14 years, when Rusty Wallace won at Watkins Glen in 1991.

Max Papis was second, Ryan Newman was third and Indy Racing League drivers Scott Sharp and Sam Hornish Jr. rounded out the top five.

Ex-NASCAR exec dies

Bill Gazaway, a longtime NASCAR executive during the sport’s modern era, died in Atlanta, NASCAR officials said. He was 76.

Gazaway joined NASCAR in 1960 as a team owner. He became NASCAR’s director of racing operations in 1979, and was named vice president of competition in 1984, a position he held until his retirement from NASCAR in 1987.

Chase changes ahead

NASCAR Chief Executive Officer Brian France delivered his midseason report card at Daytona International Speedway and said possible tweaking of the Chase for Championship may lie ahead.

France did not discount the possibility of expanding the Chase field from 10 drivers and also of adding more value to wins in the Chase’s 10 races.

France mentioned a field of 12 with two wild-card entries.