Stewart wraps up NASCAR title; Busch wins race

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) _ Tony Stewart won his first Winston Cup championship Sunday with an 18th-place finish in the Ford 400. <br><br>Stewart came into the race knowing he needed only to finish 22nd or

Sunday, November 17th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) _ Tony Stewart won his first Winston Cup championship Sunday with an 18th-place finish in the Ford 400.

Stewart came into the race knowing he needed only to finish 22nd or better to beat Mark Martin in their NASCAR championship duel, no matter what the challenger did. Martin gave it a game try, but came up 38 points short.

Kurt Busch raced to victory in the 267-lap race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Stewart never led but was easily good enough to beat Martin, who finished fourth.

``Unbelievable!'' Stewart said as he got out of his car and thrust his hands skyward. ``We never gave up. I'm really happy. This team deserves this.''

Stewart, who has undergone anger management sessions for his fiery temper that has led to fines and probation, then hugged his crew chief, Greg Zipadelli.

``We had a tough year, it's been up and down,'' Zipadelli said. ``It was worth it.''

Car owner Joe Gibbs, the former coach of the Washington Redskins, added Stewart's championship to the one earned by Bobby Labonte in 2000.

Martin said Saturday he would need a miracle to catch Stewart, who came into the race leading by 89 points. He didn't get it.

``We gave them everything we had,'' Martin said. ``Those guys were just stronger than us.''

His car owner, Jack Roush, said Gibbs' team ``had the best program all year and they deserve the championship.''

Stewart, who had won two of three previous races on the 1 1/2-mile oval, started sixth but never contended in this one, driving a conservative race that saw his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac fall a lap down midway through the event.

The 31-year-old racer, who was NASCAR's Rookie of the Year in 1999, last won a championship in 1997 in the Indy Racing League.