Stewart set for key race today

JOLIET, Ill. -- Tony Stewart is pleased to have won twice in a row after nearly a year without a victory. He still believes, however, he's got plenty to prove before he becomes a true contender for NASCAR's Nextel Cup championship.

Stewart's victories came at the road course in Sonoma, Calif., and the superspeedway at Daytona.

More telling, Stewart said, will be the results of today's USG Sheetrock 400 on Chicagoland Speedway's 1 1/2-mile oval -- a track where he has finished third, second and first in the past three seasons.

On Friday, Stewart crashed hard during practice and spent part of his day being checked out for possible upper body and head injuries at a local hospital. Stewart received a clean bill of health.

Stewart was back in the car for Saturday's practice sessions.