| | Associated Press
CONCORD, N.C. -- Tony Stewart isn't looking at this week's race as a chance to ride his momentum to a third consecutive victory.
Instead, he's looking forward to a good night of sleep.
Qualifying for the UAW-GM Quality 500 is Wednesday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a track less than 30 minutes from the homes of Stewart and many other Winston Cup drivers.
The close proximity makes the days leading up to the event a lot easier on drivers weary from the constant travel required during the 34-race season.
"It's nice to be able to go home on a race weekend and sleep in your own bed," Stewart said. "I know that doesn't sound like a very big deal, but when you travel as much as we do, any time that you can spend at home is important, especially at this time of year.
Stewart, who will try Sunday to become the first driver since Jeff Gordon in 1998 to win more than two straight races, sees burnout as a problem for drivers, crew members and their families.
"So it's nice to be able to spend a race weekend in your hometown," Stewart said. "You can go home and see your friends and family at the end of the day and sit back in your own house and just relax."
It's hard to believe anyone in Stewart's camp could be burned out right now.
Stewart's victory in Martinsville, Va., was his fifth of the year and his second in a row. With six races left, he ranks fifth in the standings.
And although he has no chance to catch teammate and points leader Bobby Labonte, Stewart can make up ground in the standings. He trails Dale Jarrett for fourth place in standing by 162 points.
But Stewart doesn't think his current hot streak alone can help him pass Jarrett.
"I don't carry a lot of momentum over from each week, in my opinion," Stewart said. "I think the guys probably do on the team, but for me, once I leave the race track, the race is over, the day is over.
"We're definitely on a high note right now, but we know we have to go to Charlotte this week and start over. We start at square one with everybody on Wednesday."
If anyone has an edge this week it would be either Matt Kenseth or Dale Earnhardt Jr., rookies who swept the spring races at the track.
Earnhardt pulled off a dramatic win in The Winston last May, and a week later Kenseth stunned the field by earning his first career victory in the Coca-Cola 600.
They actually teamed to dominate the 600, by leading a combined 205 laps. Earnhardt started from the pole and led 180 laps before Kenseth took over and led the final 25.
It marked the first time in the modern era that one rookie won the pole and another the race.
Earnhardt might be joined in the field by his older brother, Kerry, who's trying to make the second Winston Cup race of his career.
Kerry made his debut at Michigan International Speedway in August, finishing last after wrecking early in the race.
He'll be driving a Chevrolet for Marcis Auto Racing, and will be counseled by his father on the setup of the Chevrolet. Car owner Dave Marcis will be calling the shots from the pits.
Kerry is expecting this race -- his second on the 1½-mile track -- to go better than his experience in Michigan.
"I did really good in the ARCA race in May and I'm expecting
the experience to help out and boost my confidence," he said.
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