Tony Stewart earns Sonoma victory in classic Tony Stewart fashion

Ornery, short-tempered and possessing zero cares on how others viewed his actions, it was vintage Tony Stewart in every facet -- and that includes how he drove on the track -- during Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Sonoma Raceway.

But though Stewart’s patience may have been low, his fun meter was pegged. When the 45-year-old, who’s set to retire at the end of the season, is happy and exhibiting his cantankerous self, good things tend to happen -- just as it did on the windy, 10-turn road course in California’s wine country where Stewart pulled off a memorable victory on Sunday.

“It means a bunch,” Stewart said. “It’s special, trust me.”

Before this latest triumph, the 49th of Stewart’s certain Hall of Fame career, his last came over three years ago -- a span of 84 races -- and in the months and days since, Stewart has had few reasons to smile.

The exceptional talent that earned Stewart a place alongside Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt as the most versatile drivers of all-time had begun to erode. Then came a grisly crash in August 2013 that broke Stewart’s right leg in two places, followed by another accident almost exactly a year later that took the life of another racer. Although cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, the tragedy inflicted a great toll on Stewart emotionally.

Another obstacle occurred in January, when Stewart mistakenly drove an all-terrain vehicle off a sand dune estimated at 20 to 25 feet in height. He landed with such force, he suffered a burst fracture of his L1 vertebra and was lucky to avoid paralysis.

Through it all Stewart endured, except as the injuries, setbacks and lack of results mounted his enjoyment level markedly deceased.

Such frustration spurred Stewart on Friday to say he was looking forward to retirement where he could do the things that made him happiest -- barnstorming around the country racing sprint cars, running his various businesses including a thriving Sprint Cup operation, and traveling to motorsports events around the globe.

On Sunday, however, Stewart was again having fun and it showed. From the instant the green flag fell he was aggressive, almost to a fault, using his bumper to pass and doing things a driver of lesser stature would have been condemned for. Not that it mattered any.

With just 20 races remaining before the season concludes and with it his career as a NASCAR driver, Stewart didn’t concern himself making friends. With a car capable of contending and still possessing enough ability to take advantage of his equipment, for the first time in eons he had a chance to win.

“I told (his No. 14 team), ‘I’m driving like an A-hole out here,’ and I was,” Stewart said. “I was overdriving my car. I was trying to do everything I could to get as much position early in the run as I could, so I could try to run my pace and try to do the things to help save my tires.

“But I couldn’t keep the pace doing it, and I wasn’t going to leave anything on the table.”

That Stewart did everything in his power in attempt to will himself to victory became apparent on the final lap. When Denny Hamlin passed him for the lead, Stewart’s storybook day appeared to fall just short of producing the desired happy ending.

Recognizing the opportunity he had before him, Stewart entered the final turn thinking he would do anything needed to re-pass Hamlin -- including roughing him if required, which is exactly what unfolded.

Hamlin overdrove slightly and pushed high, giving Stewart a glimmer of hope he could stuff his car underneath Hamlin’s and muscle through for the win. The plan worked; the two friends body-slammed coming off the corner, allowing Stewart to nudge ahead while Hamlin careened into the wall.

Although a victory earned via dubious means, it was a victory nonetheless and Stewart wasn’t going to apologize.

“You can’t crack the door open with me on the last corner of the last lap and expect me to not take it,” Stewart said. “I’ll kick the door in or drive a bulldozer through it to keep it open.

“I don’t know if I’m going to get another scenario or opportunity to win another race the rest of the year. ... I wasn’t going to be cordial in the exit of the corner and I roughed him up pretty good. If it has been a street fight, he’d have had two black eyes after that. I used him up pretty hard.”

Had it been someone else, Hamlin would’ve likely been far less understanding. But knowing all Stewart’s been through as of late and that this is his final season, any bitterness Hamlin felt quickly subsided. Before Stewart could reach Victory Lane, Hamlin leaned in his car with a congratulatory message.

“The first thing he says is, ‘I’m so damned proud of you,‘ ” Stewart said. “That meant the world to me. “I told him right after that, ‘You know I had to do that?’ And he goes, ‘I know.’ ”

Sunday may prove to be ultimately fleeting, and for the balance of the season, and thus the remainder of his NASCAR career, Stewart could very well return to being a non factor on a weekly basis.

Yet, that doesn’t matter. In his last hurrah, Stewart got to again enjoy the spoils of victory. And with it, serve a reminder that at least for one day, anyway, he could still get it done.

Most importantly, he also had fun.