Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Looking the best since returning to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series scene last month, Tony Stewart saw a strong run in Monday’s Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400 come to a crashing halt just past the halfway point.

Stewart, who started a season-best sixth easily contended for a top-ten finish, but following a debris caution in turn two on Lap 88, his strong day quickly unraveled.

On the restart, he fell from tenth to 15th before Stewart’s No. 14 Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Boats Chevrolet broke loose in a three-wide battle with Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and spun directly into the path of his Stewart-Haas teammate Danica Patrick sending both cars into the wall along the Long Pond straightaway.

Landon Cassill who was hit by Patrick as she bounced off the wall was also involved. Despite heavy damage, both Cassill and Patrick were able to continue, while Stewart went to the garage for repairs. He later returned to the race and finished 34th, 29 laps down.

Stewart, who missed the first eight races of the season after suffering a back injury is seeking to climb into the top-30 in Sprint Cup Series points to be eligible for a Chase spot should he win a race before the Chase begins in September. Following Pocono, Stewart is 71 points behind 30th place occupied by David Ragan with 12 races remaining before the Chase begins.

The three-time Sprint Cup champion lost 11 points Monday as he was just 60 points from the cutoff position before his sixth start of the season.

During the race, Stewart could be heard joking on the radio and strongly content with his car’s handling and speed and believing in the calls his crew chief Mike Bugarewicz was making.

Stewart declined to speak with the media following the accident.