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Stewart returns undaunted by layoff
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg.As far as he’s concerned, those are the only major changes since he broke two bones in his leg in an August sprint-car crash. So when the green flag drops Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway for his first race since the accident, Stewart believes it will be the same old “Smoke” behind the wheel.If he had any doubts — and he’s insisted he doesn’t — they were alleviated by 24 smooth laps in the first of two Friday night practice sessions for the exhibition Sprint Unlimited.All told, Stewart ran 50 laps — 125 miles — around Daytona.“There’s zero percentage of pain in the car. That was nice,” Stewart said.