Only two months ago, #20-Tony Stewart angrily blasted Goodyear after the Atlanta race, saying the company had given him “the most pathetic racing tire I’ve ever been on in my professional career.” But it was a joyful, smiling Stewart who praised Goodyear for its research and hard work in delivering tires that helped the Joe Gibbs Racing star to his first win Friday night on NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway, Darlington Raceway. “I really want to give Goodyear a pat on the back,” he said. The company made two trips since March to test tires on Darlington’s slick, new surface, repaved at a cost of $7 million for the first time since 1995. The results were absolutely perfect for Stewart. “I’m the first one to tell them when they screw up and I want to be the first one to tell them when they do a good job, too,” Stewart said.(ESPN/AP)(5-10-2008)
