FYI WIRZ: Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hot in Dry Chicago

The rain finally won late in the evening on NASCAR Sunday, the scheduled day for the Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, causing a postponed race. But showers departed Monday and many fans returned to watch the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Many have been eagerly awaiting the first race of the 10-race championship playoff and the Geico 400 did not disappoint, with Tony Stewart surging to the front and conserving enough fuel to capture the checkers. Chase drivers Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson ran out of fuel and dropped in the standings as a result.

The new point system is stingy with numbers. The playoff scheme is not tolerant of poor finishes. Both combine to routi...

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