AJ Allmendinger's journey is almost complete.
With a new contract, sponsor extensions and a solid one-car team at JTG Daugherty Racing, Allmendinger became a winner in Sprint Cup for the first time on a somber Sunday, outdueling Marcos Ambrose in the final two laps at Watkins Glen International.
Tony Stewart will not race in Sunday's NASCAR race at Watkins Glen following the death of a sprint car driver who was struck and killed by Stewart at an upstate New York dirt track.
There was no slipup on the final lap this time, so Kyle Busch's victory celebration at Watkins Glen International was as sweet as it gets.
Bumped aside a year ago by Brad Keselowski on the final lap as they sped around an oil-covered track, Busch held the reigning Sprint Cup champion at bay on a two-lap dash to the checkered flag Sunday.
Ryan Newman made a boyhood dream a cool reality Sunday, taking the checkered flag at the Brickyard 400 to end a 49-race winless streak in front of his home state fans.