TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Tony Stewart, a six-time bridesmaid at Talladega Superspeedway, finally got to Victory Lane at the 2.66-mile track in Sunday's AMP Energy 500. But a controversial finish left rookie Regan Smith shouting, "Stop the wedding!"

In a green-white-checkered-flag finish that took the race two laps beyond its scheduled distance of 188, Stewart was declared the winner, even though Smith crossed the finish line first. With a quarter-mile to go and Stewart protecting the bottom of the track, Smith was forced to dip below the yellow line, which divides the speedway proper from the apron, to complete the final pass for the lead (watch video).

“

I knew where I was going to make my move. I don't know. I was always told that the rule is if you get forced down there, then you are the winner of the race and on the last lap, anything goes.

”

REGAN SMITH

In NASCAR's view, Smith's move was out of bounds, violating NASCAR's rule against improving position by passing below the yellow line. Accordingly, Stewart was awarded the victory, and Smith was demoted to an 18th-place finish as the last car on the lead lap.

Smith thought he was within the rules on the pass (watch video), and went with Dale Earnhardt Inc. president Max Siegel to defend himself to NASCAR.

"I knew I was only going to get one shot at him," Smith said. "I knew where I was going to make my move. I don't know. I was always told that the rule is if you get forced down there, then you are the winner of the race and on the last lap, anything goes. That's what I was going with.

"I got forced down there, man, I had a nose inside of him and I could have piled up the whole field."

The ruling gave Stewart his first win of the season and snapped a 43-race winless streak dating to Watkins Glen last year. (watch video). There was concern in his voice as he questioned whether Smith would be awarded the win, but he quickly started the celebration when his spotter gave the "20 is the winner" declaration.

"Man, it's one thing to get back to Victory Lane -- but to do it at Talladega -- this is one of four places I haven't won a Cup race, and talk about one to win," Stewart said. "I wanted to win here for so long."

When Smith crossed the yellow line, Stewart and crew chief Greg Zipadelli were convinced they had won the race.

"I made a counter move when I saw him [Smith] coming and got him committed in one direction and got back down to the line in a hurry," Stewart said. (Continued)