You know what is awesome? Vacation is awesome.
But yet, I continue to show up and write for you. And why? Because I love each and every one of you. Don't forget that if I ever need a kidney or something. How many of ESPN.com's other bloggers tell you that they love you? None, to the best of my knowledge.
Rest assured, I'm playing some miniature golf, enjoying cookouts and visiting the local gaming emporium. All the things a guy should really be doing on a vacation.
And I'm watching NASCAR, ready to give you some notes served research style coming off that wild finish at Daytona.
Smoke on Lake Lloyd
It shouldn't surprise anybody that Tony Stewart not only won the race but also ran up front throughout the event. Stewart, by my count, has now won 14 times at Daytona across a range of series and events.
Tony Stewart wins at Daytona by event/series
Nationwide Series -- 4
Budweiser Shootouts -- 3
Sprint Cup Series -- 3*
Gatorade Duels -- 2
IROC -- 2
* -- All in July race
But Stewart has yet to win the big one at Daytona. All three Sprint Cup Series wins at Daytona have come in July. A win in that race is an awesome way to celebrate the fourth of July. But Stewart would love (pun intended) to win a race at Daytona on Valentine's Day weekend.
Trivia break: What is Stewart's best finish in a Daytona 500?
Lasting impressions
That's two of the past three years in which the July Daytona race was decided with a last-lap pass. Think that's unusual, given the wild and uncertain races that take place there? Well, actually, it is.
Before 2007, there had been only one July Daytona race decided with a last-lap pass in the previous 25 races, and just two others in NASCAR's modern era.
Last-lap passes for the win in July Daytona race (since 1972)
Year -- Winner -- Passed
2009 -- Tony Stewart -- Kyle Busch
2007 -- Jamie McMurray -- Kyle Busch
1994 -- Jimmy Spencer -- Ernie Irvan
1981 -- Cale Yarborough -- Harry Gant
Trivia break: Kyle Busch has lost twice on last-lap passes in the July Daytona race. Name the driver who has won twice on last-lap passes in the race.
Lap dog
You know how to take a Sprint Cup points lead? Win a couple of races and finish on the lead lap repeatedly.
Seems simple, but that's exactly how Tony Stewart got atop the standings. He has finished all but three laps this season, the best record in the series. The next best is his teammate Ryan Newman, who has completed all but 10 laps.
And, as my fellow researcher Chris Lees shows in the following chart, the best might be yet to come for Stewart.
Tony Stewart Cup career after June 1
Stat -- Number -- Rank since 1999
Wins -- 31 -- first
Top-10s -- 149 -- first
Points -- 33,127 -- first
Laps led -- 6,710 -- second
Trivia break: Who has the second-most Cup wins after June 1 since 1999?
Trivia break answers
1. Tony Stewart was second to Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 2004 Daytona 500. A better trivia question was, who was third? (See answer 4.)
2. Cale Yarborough won on last-lap passes in 1967 (passed Dick Hutcherson) and 1981 (passed Harry Gant).
3. Jimmie Johnson, with 26, has the next-most wins after June 1 since 1999. Jeff Gordon is third with 25.
4. Scott Wimmer finished third in the 2004 Daytona 500.
Matt Willis
