DOVER, Del. -- Tony Stewart was rolling along again with the look of a winner Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

Then, for the sixth time this season, his dominant car slowed badly. What could have been the second win this year and 17th in the career of the Winston Cup champion became another frustrating defeat.

This time, a bad set of tires did him in.

"Well, thanks to Goodyear, we ended up third," was all Stewart had to say.

He led 97 of 400 laps in the MBNA America 400, but began to fade with 75 remaining and fell to 12th. A four-tire change with about 35 laps remaining enabled him to charge forward, but not enough to close in on race winner Ryan Newman.

Stewart wasn't alone in his frustration.

"It's just disappointing to have a car as strong as we have had in a couple of different places and come in and put on four tires and be terrible," crew chief Greg Zipadelli said.

He said there was nothing wrong with the Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet. The last change that preceded the charge back was all the proof Zipadelli needed.

"We made no adjustments," he said. "We came back in and put four tires on it and went back out and drove from 12th to third in 26 laps.

"It doesn't take much to figure out what the problem was."

Parker thankful
Crew chief Shawn Parker says the pain of dealing with the death of his wife is being soothed by the outpouring of sympathy from the NASCAR community.

"Everyone talks about how the NASCAR community is like a family. I can tell you firsthand that is exactly what this is -- family," said Parker, who called the shots Sunday on Dale Jarrett's Ford.

Tara Howell Parker, 29, and her two sisters were killed Sept. 10 when the limousine they were in burst into flames in Greensboro, N.C., after being hit from behind by a pickup truck.

"The last couple weeks have been the most difficult of my life as well as for my family and for Tara's family," Parker said.

He said support from the racing community and fans has been overwhelming.

"So many people have called, sent cards, e-mails, flowers -- it has just been so humbling," Parker said. "I know a lot of people cared about Tara, and are feeling loss.

"On behalf of our families, I want to thank everyone for sharing in our loss and showing their love and support through this very difficult time."

France on the scene
Brian France, who succeeded his father last week as NASCAR chairman, says he couldn't be in a better situation.

France is the third member of his family to head the world's largest auto racing organization. Bill France founded NASCAR in 1948, and was replaced in 1972 by son Bill Jr., who transformed a Southeast regional sport into the second-largest in America - behind only the NFL.

The younger France said he's a believer in continuity but plans to heed the advice of fans and his staff as the sport continues to grow. He doesn't believe in a no-change approach, even as it concerns his family.

"It's nice from a tradition standpoint, and I'm excited," he said. "I know that Bill never set out, and his father before ever said, `Hey a France family member has to run NASCAR forever.' I know that's not in the script."

Big bonus
Matt Kenseth will have another shot at a record bonus payment next Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.

Kenseth is the only driver eligible for the $290,000 leader bonus from series sponsor Winston. It's payable to the leader if he wins, or it goes to any other driver who moves to the top of the standings with a victory.

With a season-high 436-point lead over Kevin Harvick, Kenseth cannot be caught in either of the next two races. The maximum point spread from first to last is 151 points. Kenseth has been the only bonus eligible since May 25, when he finished second in the Coca-Cola 600 to take a 160-point lead.

It's been 58 races since the bonus -- which increases by $10,000 each time it goes unclaimed -- has been collected. Sterling Marlin won the bonus twice last season, getting a total of $50,000.

Bobby Labonte set the record for a bonus payoff when he got $190,000 three years ago in the Brickyard 400.

Money unclaimed at the end of the season is divided among the top 10 drivers.