See Also: Tony Stewart Biography
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Three drivers on Stewart's wish list? Stewart said that Ryan Newman is just one of three drivers on his short list. Presumably, Martin Truex Jr. and Jamie McMurray are the other two. And Stewart is battling car owners Joe Gibbs and Richard Childress, who are both also looking for drivers. McMurray's future with car owner Jack Roush has been up for debate the past several weeks, and the speculation has become intense that Roush would be releasing McMurray. But apparently sponsor Crown Royal is pushing Roush to keep McMurray in the fold, and as tough as good sponsors are to find, that could well end that whole debate. McMurray has been mentioned as being on Childress' short list for his new fourth team. But Childress now appears to be back in the market trying to sign Truex. A Childress-Truex deal was in the works earlier this year, until Teresa Earnhardt, who owns DEI, said she would hold Truex to the option year on his current DEI contract for 2009.(Winston Salem Journal)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Office Depot and Old Spice to sponsor #14 Tony Stewart in 2009: Office Depot and Old Spice will serve as co-primary sponsors of Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet Impala SS NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry beginning in 2009. Officials from the two companies, as well as from Stewart-Haas Racing, made the announcement today near Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Office Depot, a leading global provider of office products and services, along with Old Spice, the No. 1 antiperspirant/deodorant stick and body wash choice for guys in the United States, have entered into multi-year agreements with Stewart-Haas Racing to sponsor the new entry driven by Stewart. In addition, both Office Depot and Old Spice are official NASCAR® partners, successfully leveraging their relationships with NASCAR and their race team sponsorships as powerful marketing platforms for their brands. “To have Office Depot and Old Spice throw their support behind me and this race team makes me extremely proud,” said Stewart, who announced on July 10 that he had acquired a 50 percent stake in what is now known as Stewart-Haas Racing. (Stewart-Haas Racing PR)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Stewart's new # in 2009 #14? Haas CNC Racing general manager Joe Custer has applied for his team to trademark the #14, which is expected to be the number next season for Tony Stewart, who will co-own and drive for Stewart-Haas Racing beginning in 2009. The trademark application covers a variety of products – everything from paper goods to luggage, knives, air fresheners, video featuring racing themes and several other items. The application was filed July 2, according in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database.(SceneDaily.com)
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Gibbs preferred not to release Stewart: Joe and J.D. Gibbs made clear Saturday allowing driver Tony Stewart to exit his contract a year early to pursue ownership in Haas CNC Racing was not their preferred option. “First of all, we didn’t let him go. Tony came to us and said he wanted to leave,” said team owner Joe Gibbs. “We had a contract through next year and we talked about that and our initial reaction was we’d race through next year (together). “I think the more we talked it over with ourselves, Tony and Home Depot – Home Depot didn’t have any part of this decision, they didn’t have a choice – we just reached a conclusion that it would probably be best under these set of circumstances to allow Tony to pursue another option.” (ThatsRacin)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Stewart to partner with Haas Racing in 2009; driver/owner at Stewart Haas Racing: Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has set his NASCAR future, and it’s as an owner and driver with Stewart-Haas Racing beginning in 2009. Stewart-Haas Racing is the new partnership between Stewart and Haas CNC Racing, with the revamped entity slated to run two cars full-time in the Sprint Cup Series. “This is an incredible opportunity that allows me to race competitively in NASCAR’s top division while carving out a place in this sport long after my driving career is over,” Stewart said. “I’ve won races and I’ve won championships and I know I could’ve continued to do that at Joe Gibbs Racing, but to attempt to do those things as a car owner is something that really appeals to me. There’s a whole new sense of appreciation and satisfaction that comes with success when you’re both a driver and an owner.” (PR)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
JGR statement on Stewart's departure: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and Tony Stewart have agreed to part ways upon the conclusion of the 2008 season. The two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will finish the 2008 Sprint Cup season with JGR behind the wheel of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota. Stewart will also compete for JGR in the two NASCAR Nationwide Series races still remaining on his original, nine-race Nationwide Series schedule – July 11 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., and Aug. 16 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Stewart will pilot the No. 20 Old Spice Toyota in those two events. “We’ve had a lot of success with Tony in our 12 years here at Joe Gibbs Racing,” said J.D. Gibbs, president of JGR. “While this moment is bittersweet, we’re parting on good terms and we know that each of us has benefited greatly from the other. “We grew to two teams in the Sprint Cup Series with Tony and The Home Depot in 1999, and two championships and 32 wins followed. While our time together is coming to an end, we know there’s still a lot of racing left this season and we plan to make the most of it. On behalf of everyone at JGR, we’re proud of everything we’ve accomplished together with Tony and we wish him the best in pursuing his dream of NASCAR team ownership.” (JGR PR)
Stewart to make major announcement at Chicagoland: Tony Stewart To Make Official Announcement On His Future After Joe Gibbs Racing On Thursday, July 10th @ 2:30P.M.(EST) From Chicagoland Speedway. (PR)
Frank Bifulco, Chief Marketing Officer of The Home Depot Regarding Tony Stewart’s departure from JGR at the end of the 2008 season: “The Home Depot has had a remarkable relationship with Tony Stewart and Joe Gibbs Racing since our sponsorship commenced back in 1998. With two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships and 32 race wins, Tony is a true competitor and an excellent ambassador for our company. Details regarding our future plans will be announced at a later date.” (PR)
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Stewart interested in the Hendrick #5 car: Tony Stewart proclaimed his interest Friday in Hendrick Motorsports’ soon-to-be-vacated No. 5 Chevrolet, saying the removal of Casey Mears from that ride could alter his plans for 2009 and beyond. Stewart has another year left on his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing but has expressed interest in partial ownership of another team. Reports have said the deal is done, with sponsors and drivers named. But Stewart said that wasn’t the case, joking at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that there are some teams he has yet to talk to. “I’ve still got two ARCA teams I’m talking to, a truck team and now the 5 car’s available,” Stewart said. “I’ve still got a lot of work to do.” But Stewart wasn’t joking when asked if Hendrick’s No. 5 would be something he would be interested in. “Absolutely, absolutely,” Stewart said. “You’ve got to. There’s nobody in this garage area that’s not going to look in that direction. You’ve got to look at that.” (NASCAR Scene Daily)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Zipadelli has options in JGR contract if Stewart leaves: Should Stewart leave, Zipadelli could go with him and extend the longest crew chief-driver reign in Cup. The long-term extension he signed with JGR last season has outs in it if Stewart is not with the organization. But Zipadelli doesn't sound like a man seeking to start over as Stewart would be doing to some degree if he joined a fledgling race team such as Haas. He is happy at JGR and enjoys the security the company offers him and his family, which expanded by one this past Wednesday with the birth of his second son and third child. "Joe Gibbs Racing gave me an opportunity 10 years ago and has not ever given me any reason not to want to be here,'' Zipadelli said. "That's what's disappointing about the situation. I don't think for just racing there's a better place as far as owners. "I know there's other good, competitive race teams out there. I have a lot of respect for them. … I don't know if ever in 10 years we've ever been told no, we couldn't do something.'' (ESPN.com)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Stewart's post-race response to NASCAR's driver meeting: [But] leave it to Tony Stewart to insinuate what everyone already knew: The real message Helton sent was one of "shut up and drive." "Ask Mike Helton. I don't know what we're allowed to say and what we're not," Stewart said during his post-race radio interview on Motor Racing Network. "I'm just thankful we're allowed to be here. It's just a privilege for us to be here, and according to Friday, we've all got it a lot better than a lot of us think. "We're not allowed to have opinions now. We've all got it made here. We've all got it great. At least that is what we've all been told." (AP/SportingNews)
Friday, June 13, 2008
Tony Stewart to help midwest flood victims: When #20-Tony Stewart returned to his hometown of Columbus, Ind., late Sunday night after the race at Pocono. There, Stewart, a 1989 graduate of Columbus North High School saw his town under water. With people displaced and many homes severely damaged if not destroyed, Stewart quickly found a new perspective on true sorrow and disappointment. On Monday, he visited the Columbus Public Works garage and thanked all those who had been working around the clock to help restore the town’s infrastructure. He also stopped by his old junior high school, which the American Red Cross had converted into a shelter for flood evacuees. There, Stewart chatted with those who had to call the gymnasium floor their temporary home, and allowed them a short distraction from the headaches and worry that came when rising flood waters significantly altered their lives. There were so many stories of hardship, Stewart wondered where to even start. The answer: Sunday’s LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Whatever Stewart’s portion of the race winnings are in the LifeLock 400, he’ll donate them to the American Red Cross in Columbus, with the money specified for flood assistance. Those wishing to join Stewart in helping those affected by the floods throughout Indiana can call 812-379-9551 or send checks payable to The American Red Cross, 931 Repp Drive, Columbus, IN 47201. If writing a check, write “Indiana Flood & Tornado Relief” on the memo line. How is your home in Columbus? “My old house by the high school is good. The farm is just wet, absolutely saturated. You can’t get on it. You can’t do anything. And we’re getting baby deer now. We have four little ones, and we’ve got them on the deck in a small pen because you can’t get on the ground to put them anywhere. They’re so young, you don’t want them to get stuck.”(True Speed Communication/JGR PR)
June 24, 2007
Gibbs In discuss with Stewart: Joe Gibbs Racing and Tony Stewart are discussing a contract extension through 2011, team president J.D. Gibbs said Sunday at Infineon Raceway. "We want Tony to be here for a long time," Gibbs said. "Our deal goes through '09 with Tony and we want to add a couple more or however many he wants to go." Gibbs said they have talked about an extension for a while to get Stewart and crew chief Greg Zipadelli signed long-term if the two-time Cup champion plans to race beyond 2009. "I want all those guys on the same page," Gibbs said. "When the time is right, we want to sign him for as long as he wants to drive." (Scene Daily)
June 21, 2007
Tony Stewart's 300th Career Cup start: As the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rolls into California's wine country for this weekend's Toyota/SaveMart 350k at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, it's time to toast Tony Stewart's 300th career Nextel Cup start. The driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet first came to stock car racing's pinnacle circuit in 1999 when he teamed with Joe Gibbs Racing and crew chief Greg Zipadelli. (JGR PR)
July 15, 2006
Stewart donates to VJGC: In an emotional presentation, Pattie Petty, the mother of Adam Petty -- killed in a tragic practice crash in 2000 at NHIS -- was given a $1 million check in the memory of her son by Stewart for The Victory Junction Gang Camp. "I'm sorry, but I'm shaking," Petty said, choking back tears. "I think Adam would be humbled to think that (Stewart) thought about not only helping the camp, but helping his dad." (Daily News)
July 3, 2006
Home Depot Crew wins Challenge: Tony Stewart’s over-the-wall crew picked up the Checkers®/Rally’s® Double Drive-Thru Challenge win Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, helping lift the team to its second consecutive victory in the summer classic at the 2.5-mile tri-oval. This is the third pit crew challenge win of the season for the No. 20 team, which now owns second place in the season-long standings. They also took the honors at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway in March. Jimmie Johnson’s crew is in the lead with four victories. "I've never worked with a group of guys that were more dedicated to what they do and why they do it,” said Stewart. “That's what makes nights like this that much more impressive. This is not a race where a driver can go out and just win it. You have to have a fast car -- one that's prepared well -- and you have to have a crew that gets you in and out of the pits consistently fast all night. We had it all working for us tonight. It was a total team effort." The No. 20 over-the-wall crew consists of: Jason Lee (jackman), Tom Dean (front-tire carrier), Ira-Jo Hussey (front-tire changer), Jody Fortson (rear-tire carrier), Todd Foster (rear-tire changer), Jeff Patterson (gasman), Brian Larson (catch can) and Scott Geerts (windshield). The team’s crew chief is Greg Zipadelli and the pit stop coordinator is Paul Alepa. Stewart’s Home Depot Chevrolet spent 205.081 seconds on pit road. (DMF Communications PR)
July 1, 2006
Stewart wins again in Daytona: Tony Stewart's slump is over, his shoulder is fine and his fence-climbing is as good as ever. His moves in a mosh pit leave something to be desired. Stewart was back to his on-track dominance and off-track hijinks, winning at Daytona International Speedway by charging to the lead with two laps to go Saturday night. He then celebrated with his trademark climbing of the fence, but made the mistake of jumping into the crowd - where he found himself overwhelmed by rowdy fans. (FoxSports.com - Results - Points)
June 30, 2006
Stewart wins Daytona IROC road race: Tony Stewart proved he knows his way around every inch of Daytona International Speedway by winning the International Race of Champions event on the road course Thursday night. Stewart, who has seven career victories on the superspeedway, started 11th but wasted no time working his way through the 12-car field. He was third after the first full lap, and took the lead on the fourth lap. "The guys told us to watch out for the first corner because of cold brakes," he said. "So we just lifted early and everybody starting wrecking. We were fourth, and then got up to third, and just kind of worked our way forward after that." It put him out front and away from all the spins behind him from drivers not accustomed to road courses. This was the first road course race for the IROC Series since Rusty Wallace won at Watkins Glen in 1991. (Sporting News)
June 28, 2006
WI. local driver holds off Stewart, and Kenseth: On a night when 10,000 fans crammed around Madison International Speedway to see two of NASCAR's biggest names, not only did the stars put on a show but so did a comparative unknown who walked away with the victory Tuesday night at the All-Star Challenge. Kelly Bires, a 21-year-old from Mauston, won the 100-lap feature, fighting off a charge by Cambridge native Matt Kenseth during the final 11 laps. Bires' fastest lap around the half-mile oval was 18.252 seconds. Kenseth finished second. Bobby Wilberg was third. Tony Stewart, defending Nextel Cup champion, finished eighth but made perhaps the biggest jump in the field. He started 19th.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
June 14, 2006:
Gibbs not fond of Stewart racing out Cup series: Car owner Joe Gibbs says he won't keep Tony Stewart from running in races other than Nextel Cup events, but Gibbs is not fond of the practice as his driver recovers from a broken shoulder blade. Stewart's injury was discovered after he crashed in last month's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The incident happened a night after Stewart wrecked in the Busch race. A doctor cleared Stewart after the Busch incident, but Stewart favored his right shoulder before the Cup race. Gibbs is sensitive to his Cup drivers competing in other events. Bobby Labonte broke his shoulder blade in a Busch crash at Darlington in 1999. Labonte didn't return to that series the rest of the year. Gibbs says he's talked to Stewart about the driver's racing schedule. "I think for younger guys that have a chance maybe to up their careers and want laps and all that, that's one set of circumstances,'' said Gibbs, who has Cup rookies Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley, both driving full time in the Busch series. "For Tony, it's different. "He can drive anything. He doesn't need laps. I know he loves it. We did limit a lot of things he's done. He's worked with us on that. He's got a lot to lose. He's got contracts that pay him a lot of money.'' (Roanoke Times)
June 12, 2006:
Stewart OK after 500 miles at Pocono: Tony Stewart is done talking about his injured shoulder. With his gutty third-place finish in Sunday's Pocono 500, the defending NASCAR champ showed he can drive as well with one bum shoulder as he can with two good ones. Stewart felt no soreness and said he felt close to full strength after driving all 500 miles two weeks after he broke his right shoulder blade at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "I feel like I could run another 500-mile race right now and still feel the same," he said. (Star-Telegram)
June 7, 2006:
Stewart to attempt full weekend at Pocono: Tony Stewart plans to allow Ricky Rudd to enjoy a family vacation this weekend. Despite a fractured right shoulder blade, Stewart said Wednesday he plans to do all of the practicing, qualifying and racing in the No. 20 Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway. Stewart ran just 38 laps last week at Dover before Rudd stepped in as a relief driver. Rudd, after getting a pit-road speeding penalty on a green-flag stop, finished 25th. Stewart said he has a new version of the ButlerBuilt seat he's been running that he thinks will help him at the 2.5-mile triangular track. "We think it's a better design," Stewart said of the seat, which is slightly wider in the shoulder area than the seat he was using. "It was time to put something new in there. Brian Butler and his staff did an awesome job of accommodating me and getting a seat pumped out in a short amount of time so we would have it for Pocono." Stewart said the team would make a decision later this week whether to have a relief driver standing by for this weekend. (ThatsRacin.com)
June 4 2006:
T. Stewart to race in Racing Against Cancer: Jon Blanchette helped start Racing Against Cancer as a small charity to honor the memory of his wife, Jodi, who died in 1994. But Racing Against Cancer last week signed a driver that might make it much more than a small charity. ony Stewart, NASCAR's reigning Nextel Cup champion and one of the most popular drivers in the series, has agreed to drive in the New England 100, a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at the New Hampshire International Speedway in July. "It's off the chart. It gives us notoriety and credibility we normally wouldn't have had," Blanchette, 49, of Sterling said. "I don't think you can get a bigger name." Blanchette said his wife asked something positive come from her death and he came up with the idea in 1996 of forming Racing Against Cancer and getting Foxwoods Resort Casino, where Blanchette works as a pit manager, to match the winnings of friend and driver Scott Gregory of Old Saybrook. The charity has raised more than $450,000 for cancer research and support organizations so far, from matched winnings, fund-raisers, merchandise sales and donations from other area drivers. (Norwich Bulletin) Racing Against Cancer Website
May 31, 2006:
T. Stewart will race Sunday at Dover: Tony Stewart will not require surgery for the fractured right scapula he sustained in an accident during Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. Stewart's #20 Chevy suffered a right front tire failure on lap 33 of the 400-lap race, sending the #20 machine into the SAFER barrier on the outside retaining wall of turn one. Stewart was running in the 25th position when the accident happened. "Tony sustained a non-displaced fracture at the tip of his right scapula," said Dr. Jerry Petty, a neurosurgeon who has consulted with many NASCAR drivers. "It is a non-surgical injury that only time and rest can heal." While Stewart's fractured right scapula won't require surgery, it will limit his participation in this weekend's Nextel Cup event at Dover. Veteran NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd has been secured by Joe Gibbs Racing to serve as the relief driver for the #20 team this weekend at Dover. Rudd, a winner of 23 Nextel Cup races - four of which came at Dover - will practice and qualify the #20 Chevrolet while Stewart will start the 400-lap race. Rudd will be on standby in the pit area to relieve Stewart at any point during the event. By starting at Dover, Stewart will receive all points toward the Nextel Cup driver's championship. (JGR/True Speed Communication)
May 29, 2006:
Stewart factures scapula in accident: Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart sustained a fracture of his right scapula in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race when a flat right front tire sent his No. 20 Chevrolet into the SAFER barrier on the outside retaining wall of turn one. Stewart was running in the 25th position when the accident happened on lap 33 of the 400-lap race. According to doctors at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., a CT scan revealed a minimally displaced fracture at the tip of the right scapula. Stewart is scheduled to meet with Joe Gibbs Racing's team physicians on Tuesday for further evaluation. An update on Stewart's condition will be provided following that evaluation. (True Speed Communications PR)
May 28, 2006:
Stewart wrecks, and taken to local hospital again: Driver of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet, Tony Stewart was involved in a single car incident at lap 34.. After several minutes attending to Stewart, he was very slow to get out of his car and later taken to a local medical facility for further evaluation. (RaceCast) Stewart was later released, and is expected to race Sunday in Dover..
Stewart cleared to race: #20-Tony Stewart has been cleared to drive in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., after crashing in Saturday night's Carquest 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Lowe's. Stewart, driving for Kevin Harvick Inc., in the Carquest 300, spun in turn four and impacted the SAFER barrier on lap 10 of the 200-lap race. After being transported to the speedway's infield care center, he complained of discomfort in his right shoulder. As a result, NASCAR medical personnel dispatched Stewart to Carolinas Medical Center University for precautionary X-rays. Those X-rays proved negative. (True Speed Communication)
May 27, 2006:
Stewart and McMurray to the hospital: NEXTEL Cup Champion Tony Stewart, and driver Jamie McMurray were taken to local hospital, after separate accidents during the Busch series Car Quest 300. Both drivers were evaluated, later released and are expected to race in tomorrow Coca-Cola 600.
May 19, 2006:
Stewart inks Satellite radio show: SIRIUS Satellite Radio, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR starting in 2007, announced today that two-time and reigning NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Tony Stewart -- one of the sport's most exciting and outspoken drivers -- will host a live weekly talk show exclusively on SIRIUS. Debuting in January, Tony Stewart Live will air exclusively on SIRIUS' upcoming 24/7 NASCAR channel, providing SIRIUS listeners with the ultimate insider's perspective on auto racing. The weekly, two-hour show will feature Stewart -- who has never been shy about expressing his opinions in 27 years of racing -- taking calls from listeners, talking with prominent guests and covering the spectrum of motorsports -- from NASCAR to open-wheel racing and beyond. Matt Yocum, who is a pit reporter for the NASCAR broadcasts on FOX/FX and NBC/TNT, will be Stewart's co-host on Tony Stewart Live. Preview editions of Tony Stewart Live, hosted by Stewart, will begin airing exclusively on SIRIUS in October 2006. Stewart will also be featured in SIRIUS' NASCAR related marketing and advertising (PRNewswire)
April 2, 2006:
Stewart wins Martinsville race: ony Stewart won a paint-trading duel with Jimmie Johnson and overcame Hendrick Motorsports' long domination at Martinsville Speedway. Stewart and Johnson dueled nose-to-bumper and side-by-side for four laps Sunday, bringing the 65,000 fans to their feet. After being rebuffed three times, Stewart finally got around Johnson with 27 laps to go and held on to win the DirectTV 500. "I knew we were a little quicker than him. There was no way he was going to give it away, so we were going to have to take it away. We didn't turn him around. We didn't spin him out. We just got the position that we were after," Stewart said. The victory was the 25th for the defending and two-time series champion, and second at Martinsville, where he led 530 of 1,000 laps last year but came away without either victory. He also once said the track should be converted to a bass fishing pond. (ABC News - Points - Results)
March 28, 2006:
Stewart crew wins again Checkers®-Drive Thru Challenge: For the second week in a row, Tony Stewart’s pit crew secured the weekly Checkers® / Rally’s® Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition by spending the least amount of time on pit road in Sunday's (March 26) NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. "Our pit stops were really good all day,” said Stewart, who recorded a 12th-place finish in his Home Depot/Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet. “For two straight weeks our stops have been good. The guys have really stepped it up and I'm proud of them. We never lost a spot on pit road, and at a place like Bristol where track position is so important, having a crew that keeps what you earned on the race track is invaluable." Stewart’s team will be awarded the weekly $10,500 prize entitled to the winning team. In addition, a $105,000 reward will be presented to the team with the most pit crew wins at the conclusion of the 36-race Nextel Cup season. Stewart’s over-the-wall crew, who spent 206.844 seconds on pit road during the 500-lap event, consists of: Jason Lee (jackman), Tom Dean (front-tire carrier), Ira-Jo Hussey (front-tire changer), Jody Fortson (rear-tire carrier), Todd Foster (rear-tire changer), Jeff Patterson (gasman), Brian Larson (catch can) and Scott Geerts (windshield). The team’s crew chief is Greg Zipadelli and the pit stop coordinator is Paul Alepa. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series. (Checkers®/Rally'® PR)
March 22, 2006:
Home Depot Crew wins Checker/Rally's Drive-Thru Challenge: Tony Stewart's pit crew captured the Checkers / Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition in Monday's rain-delayed NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season of rewarding pit crews, the unsung heroes in the Nextel Cup Series. The program awards $10,500 per week to the top pit crew. In addition, the pit crew with the most wins will be awarded a $105,000 bonus at the completion of the 36-race schedule. Stewart's #20 Home Depot Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road (322.141 seconds) during Monday's 500-mile race. The winning performance by the #20 crew lifted Stewart to a fifth-place finish. Stewart's over-the-wall crew consists of: Jason Lee (jackman), Tom Dean (front-tire carrier), Ira-Jo Hussey (front-tire changer), Jody Fortson (rear-tire carrier), Todd Foster (rear-tire changer), Jeff Patterson (gasman), Brian Larson (catch can) and Scott Geerts (windshield). The team's crew chief is Greg Zipadelli and the pit stop coordinator is Paul Alepa. The #20 crew, part of the Joe Gibbs Racing stable, snapped a three-race win streak by Hendrick Motorsports teams. The first two Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge wins of the season went to Jimmie Johnson's #48 crew. The round-three winner was the #5 crew for Kyle Busch. Daytona (2/19) Jimmie Johnson Team; California (2/26) Jimmie Johnson Team; Las Vegas (3/12) Kyle Busch Team; Atlanta (3/20) Tony Stewart Team.(DMF Communications PR), more at checkers.com. (Checkers/Rally's)
Feb. 13, 2006:
Stewart meets with NASCAR Officials and discusses 'bump drafting' with media: Two-time and defending NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart visited the NASCAR trailer after the race, where he met with series President Mike Helton and series tech officials John Darby, Gary Nelson. and Robin Pemberton to complain about the risks of bump drafting at Daytona. "I was watching TV and they were talking about another tribute to Dale Earnhardt," Stewart said Sunday night. "Five years from now we're probably going to have to do another tribute to another driver because we're going to kill somebody from Wednesday to Sunday," Stewart said. Drivers bump draft by running into the car directly ahead of them. The technique can give the lead car more speed, but it can also shove it out of the way, depending on the angle and force with which it’s struck. Stewart delivered impassioned pleas first to the media and then to NASCAR about the dangers of the technique, which nearly caused several major pileups in Sunday’s Budweiser Shootout. “I won’t use the word ‘eloquent,’ but he was very professional in making his argument,” NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter said of Stewart’s discussion in the trailer. (SPEEDTV.com)
Jan. 17, 2006:
Stewart OKd to race: #20-Tony Stewart got clearance Monday to drive in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona as well as the test session at the end of the month at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway following two separate flips last week in a U.S. Auto Club Midget race. Stewart left a Tulsa, Okla., hospital last Friday with his right arm in a cast, but doctors said there were no serious injuries during a follow-up visit on Monday, team president J.D. Gibbs said. "Everything checked out fine," Gibbs said. "We told him he's still driving in the Daytona 500 even if his arm was broken." Stewart was participating in the Chili Bowl, one of the premier Midget races of the team. Job Gibbs Racing teammate J.J. Yeley and Evernham Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne also participated in the race. Stewart flipped and crashed on Thursday during a heat race. He wasn't injured in that accident, Gibbs said, but he struck his right arm on the shifter when he flipped again on Friday. "The reality of it is, when he first started with us he did way more (races) than what he's doing now," Gibbs said. Gibbs said the race team has restricted Stewart from some of his outside races in the past, but the defending Nextel Cup Series champion has reduced his schedule in the past couple years. "For him to go back to the local tracks where he started, we think it's all right," Gibbs said. "He enjoys that." (Athens Banner-Herald)
Jan. 14, 2006:
Stewart Injured: Tony Stewart, the reigning champion in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, was taken to a local hospital for a preliminary examination after he flipped his Midget car in the opening laps of last night's qualifying race for the 20th annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Raceway. Complaining of pain in his right arm after the crash, Stewart was taken to the hospital where X-rays revealed no broken bones and a CT scan proved negative. In a precautionary measure, Stewart was fitted with a cast until a more extensive evaluation can be made by his own doctors on Monday. "I'm a little sore," said Stewart. "The doctors were great and did a pretty thorough evaluation of me. They didn't find anything broken, but just to be sure, they fitted me with a cast that I'll wear until I meet with my doctors on Monday. It looks a lot worse than it is. "In no way should this affect my upcoming test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, my plans to compete in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona or my participation in Daytona Speedweeks."(True Speed Communication)
Chili Bowl Coverage: Find the latest on the 20th annual Chili Bowl from Tulsa, OK at Oklahoma Race Connect including Friday Nights Action, Tony Stewart again flips again, taken to area hospital and more... NASCAR's Kasey Kahne finished 3rd in the A-Main Friday Night..
Jan. 12, 2006:
Danny "the Dude" Lasoski wins Creek Nation Casino Qualifier Night; NEXTEL Cup Champion Stewart flips.. More at Oklahoma Race Connect's Chili Bowl Coverage
Jan. 3, 2006:
Stewart and Gordon participates in “A Race To Patriotism”: The 10th Anniversary of the American Veterans Awards “A Race To Patriotism” announced NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon have joined the “Race To Patriotism” and recorded Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) to help promote the Military Spouse “Angel” Award. The Military Spouse “Angel” nomination deadline is Sunday, February 12, 2006. The Military Spouse Award is an ongoing, annual award that is open to all military families. There will be two Department of Defense (DoD) award recipients who will be honored, in addition to a military retiree (served 20 years or more) and a military veteran (served less than 20 years). (PSAs available at AVA website)
Dec. 31, 2005:
Stewart wins IN. Midget race: He thought he wasn't going to run Friday's 60-lap "Rumble in Ft. Wayne." He didn't hot lap, instead leaving National Sprint Car Series champion Levi Jones to run the No. 2 Munchin/ Voltswagen sponsored by Our Gang Poker. But all of that diminished when Tony Stewart stepped into his mount, swept to his second consecutive fast qualifying time, started eighth and won the final race of USAC's 50 years as an auto racing sanctioning body. Stewart blitzed to third after only one lap, then took the lead on Lap 7 of the event and led to the checkered flag, which he proudly held after climbing the front straightaway fence and pumping fists on the flag stand in front of a sea of orange cheering for the home state hero. "This," Stewart said, "is pretty cool." (TonyStewart.com)
Dec. 23, 2005:
Stewart race version die cast available: A die-cast replica of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car that Tony Stewart drove to a memorable, emotional victory in the 2005 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is available now at the Brickyard Authentics Online Store. Fans can visit the Online Store at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. The Stewart die-cast also is available at the Hall of Fame Museum Gift Shop at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and at the Brickyard Authentics locations in Circle Centre in downtown Indianapolis and the Indianapolis International Airport. Indiana native and resident Stewart prevailed over Kasey Kahne in a thrilling late-race duel Aug. 7 to earn his long-coveted dream victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (IMS PR)
Dec. 26, 2005:
Stewart to present awards: In a role reversal of sorts, on Sunday afternoon, January 8, 2006, reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart will become the ‘presenter’ rather than the ‘receiver’. On that day, Stewart will honor the Eldora Speedway champions and their court, as he concludes his first year as owner of the storied southwestern Ohio speed plant. Fresh off his recent New York appearance to accept NASCAR’s highest honors, Stewart is anxious to similarly reward the Eldora honorees. “I know exactly what these guys went through. A points chase is grueling, for sure, but the end results are gratifying and I’m excited to be able to share this moment of glory with them, and thank them for supporting my first-year efforts at Eldora”. Accepting championship honors at the Eldora Ballroom will be Chad Kemenah (Sprint), Aaron Scott (Late Model), Scott Orr (Modified) and Mike Dirksen (Stock Car), while those finishing behind them will be acknowledged as well, with trophies and point fund rewards. As added drama, Stewart has announced the formulation of several ‘specialty trophies’. Each of the four divisions will see honorees named for best improved driver, hard luck award and best appearing car award, while an overall sportsman of the year will be named.Geared primarily for the Eldora participants, track officials have announced that a limited number of tickets are being made available for fans wishing to join in the celebration. Priced at $23 per person, ticket requests will be received by mail only (13929 SR 118 - New Weston, OH 45348), and granted in the order of acceptance, until full. Phone and ‘in person’ sales will not be accepted. Tickets will not be available the day of the event.
Dec..15, 2005:
Stewart honored by House of Representatives: on Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution from U.S. Rep. Mike Sodrel of Indiana recognizing #20-Tony Stewart for his 2005 Nextel Cup championship. Sodrel, who sponsored the resolution, was joined by other members of the Indiana delegation – Reps. Mike Pence, Dan Burton, Mark Soder, John Hostettler and Julia Carson – as co-sponsors. House Resolution 587 passed unanimously. Sodrel represents Indiana’s 9th Congressional District, which includes Stewart’s hometown – and current residence – of Columbus. “I am proud to honor Mr. Tony Stewart for all of his accomplishments in NASCAR and the world of motorsports by bringing this resolution to the floor of the House of Representatives,” Sodrel said. “Hoosiers and racing fans around the world are proud of Tony and his team and we look forward to his continued success.” The resolution cites Stewart for his five 2005 wins, his two series titles in seven seasons, his eight other auto racing championships, his top-10 ranking in each of his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup seasons and particularly his Aug. 7 victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard). Following that win, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels awarded Stewart the state’s highest honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash, on Aug. 29. (NASCAR PR)
Dec. 14, 2005:
Champion Stewart visits GM Plant: Tony Stewart, the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup champion, visited the GM Arlington Assembly Plant this afternoon to help build a 2007 Chevy Tahoe. Stewart visited the Texas plant to perform several jobs in the general assembly process and meet with GM employees that work on the various lines. Plans are in development for the final Tahoe that Stewart drives off the line be used at several promotional events and eventually be auctioned off for charity. Stewart's visit to the plant today helped kick off Arlington production of the 2007 Chevy Tahoe. The new Tahoe will be available in dealer showrooms beginning in January. (GM Racing PR)
Dec.. 10, 2005:
Chilli Bowl includes Kahne and Stewart: The Bowl season is nearly upon us and that can mean only one thing: it's time to take a look at the pre-entries for the upcoming 20th Annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, which will take place at Tulsa Expo Raceway on Wednesday through Saturday, January 11-14, 2006. The complete list of entries is available at www.chilibowl.com/2006cbentries.asp. The entry list for the 20th edition of the Chili Bowl, which includes 229 entries from 26 different states, reads like a veritable "Who's Who" of auto racing with top drivers from all disciplines of racing. Among those headlining the list of entries are NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart, NASCAR star Kasey Kahne, 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser, four-time Chili Bowl winner Sammy Swindell, two-time Chili Bowl champions Cory Kruseman and Dan Boorse, and defending Chili Bowl winner Tracy Hines. With 229 entries already submitted, it is expected that last year's record count of 249 competitors will be easily eclipsed. One-third of the entrants will compete on Wednesday night, January 11, with the second-third on Thursday night and the final third on Friday night. Qualifying night results will determine the Saturday, January 14, Chili Bowl championship feature lineups. Reserved seating for all four nights of the event was depleted in mid-October. Pit passes for all four nights do remain however. Four-night pit pass vouchers are available by contacting the O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals ticket office at 918-838-3777. Those unable to attend the event can listen to all the action unfold live via the Internet at www.racinboys.com. Additional information regarding the O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is available at www.chilibowl.com or by calling 918-838-3777.
Dec. 3, 2005
Stewart gets a big check at Banquet: Tony Stewart's best year in NASCAR's Nextel Cup series reached the bottom line Friday, with the two-time champion setting a record for single-season earnings. He picked up $6,173,633 from the points fund set up by series sponsor Nextel and NASCAR, and added $517,000 in contingency awards from sponsors. Combined with the prize money earned during the 36-race season, Stewart's total of $13,578,168 breaks the previous mark of $10,979,757 by Jeff Gordon in 2001. Stewart, who earlier in the day had a migraine headache that caused him to miss a breakfast at which he was to collect several checks from sponsors, was feeling a lot better on stage Friday night during the formal awards ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Stewart is a lifelong racer, a driver who ranks making money below winning races, winning championships and just driving the car. When told he has now earned $48.4 million in his Cup career, Stewart rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I'm not going to give the checks back," he said, grinning. "But we didn't start racing because we thought we'd be collecting a big check at the end of the season. We did it for the thrill of winning races and, at the time I started racing, wanting my trophy to be bigger than the next guy's trophy." (Detroit News)
Nov. 30, 2005:
Stewart to get in shape: Tony Stewart went on a shopping spree last week that he hopes will lead to a new and improved Nextel Cup champion. "I went out and bought $17,000 worth of exercise equipment for my house," Stewart said Wednesday as he prepared for yet another of the dozens of media events this week in New York, leading up to Friday night's NASCAR awards ceremony at which he will collect checks for more than $5.8 million. Most of that goes to his Joe Gibbs Racing team, but Stewart will certainly keep more than enough of it to consider his latest shopping trip pocket money. And, he said it will certainly be worth it as an important next step in his maturation process. The 5-foot-9 Stewart, who probably weighs at least 20 pounds more than the 185 listed in the NASCAR media guide, admittedly loves fast food and has often made himself the brunt of his own jokes about how out of shape he is. (FoxSports)
Stewart honored by fellow drivers: Tony Stewart was unanimously chosen by his fellow drivers as the Sporting News NASCAR Nextel Cup Driver of the Year, the magazine said Tuesday. Stewart had his second NASCAR Cup championship in four years. He had five victories, three poles and 17 top five finishes. "That's the greatest honor that a driver could have in this sport is to have your peers vote for you like that," Stewart said in a statement. Kyle Busch was named Sporting News 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year. He edged out Carl Edwards who was technically ineligible for the ballot but was written in by nearly half of his competitors. (ThatsRacin)
Nov. 25, 2005:
Stewart celebration now 2 days planned: A parade to honor NASCAR champion Tony Stewart in his hometown has been called off because a conflict with his schedule, and city leaders are now planning for a two-day celebration sometime in January. The parade was scheduled for Dec. 17. The dates for the new celebration has not yet been set. The January celebration might include fireworks and a hog roast, said Lynn Lucas, director of the Columbus Visitors Center. "The economic impact of all this will be tremendous," she said. "This is an opportunity, and we want to take advantage of it." She said they hope to attract thousands of Stewart fans to the event, including some from out of town. (CNNSI)
Stewart parade cancelled: A parade to honor NASCAR champion Tony Stewart in his hometown of Columbus, Indiana has been postponed due to a conflict with Stewart's schedule. Instead of a parade, Columbus officials are planning a two-day celebration sometime in January. The parade was originally scheduled for December 17th. The dates for the new celebration has not yet been set. The January celebration may include fireworks and a hog roast. City officials hope people will come from around the country. (WANE-TV)
Nov. 22, 2005:
Busy Stewart starts media tour: Drenched with soda and beer after claiming his second Nextel Cup championship in four seasons, Tony Stewart was asked to make a statement when he entered the media center late Sunday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "Let's get this thing over with as quick as possible," he said with a devilish grin. "I've got a lot of beer to drink with my crew." What, you were expecting NASCAR's bad boy-turned-choirboy to say he was headed to Disney World? Presumably, he left a wake-up call because the party was to continue yesterday with a flight to New York for television appearances, including a taping of the Late Show with David Letterman that is scheduled to air on Friday. Today, Stewart's commute will take him to Bristol, Conn., for a barrage of interviews at ESPN headquarters. He will return home to Indiana before heading for the Big Apple on Sunday to kick off Champions Week - culminating with the Nextel Cup awards banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria on Dec. 2. NASCAR's 14th multiple-title winner may be better prepared mentally to handle the onslaught of interviews and appearances than when he won his first stock-car championship in 2002. "This year vs. 2002 - we've had fun all year," Stewart said. "Even when we weren't running good, we were having fun. We got back to why we started racing in the first place, and that's because we love being a part of race teams and we love racing and we love competing. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Stewart hometown to have parade: Tony Stewart's hometown will hold a parade next month to honor him for winning the NASCAR series championship. The parade is planned for Dec. 17, starting at 12:20 p.m. from the Hamilton Center Ice Arena and ending at Columbus North High School. It would be the second parade in Columbus for Stewart in four months. On Aug. 15, he was recognized for his win in the Allstate 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Judy Jackson, the city's community development director, said Monday that Dec. 17 was the earliest date Stewart was available for the parade. (Fort Wayne New Sentinel)
Nov. 20, 2005:
Biffle Wins Race, Stewart wins Championship: Tony Stewart was smooth and steady for an entire race. An entire season. An entire championship run. Stewart cruised to his second NASCAR championship in four years Sunday, capping an uncharacteristically calm season for the former Bad Boy. He won races, kept his temper in check and avoided every major incident long enough to cement himself as one of the greatest drivers of his time. Needing only to run a clean race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he hovered just outside the top 10 and away from any potential danger. He ended up 15th, winning the title by 35 points over Greg Biffle, who won the race for the second straight year by besting teammate Mark Martin in a door-to-door finish. Stewart became just the 14th driver in NASCAR history with more than one championship and joined four-time winner Jeff Gordon as the only active drivers with multiple titles. (ABC News - Results - Points)
Nov. 16, 2005:
Stewart clinches One Championship; Gatorback: The race season isn't over quite yet, but #20-Tony Stewart has already clinched one championship. Stewart has put enough distance between himself and the remainder of the field to capture the Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Championship prior to this weekend's season-ending race at Homestead, Fla. The Gatorback award, sponsored by Goodyear Engineered Products, goes each week to a driver posting the fastest lap while leading a Nextel Cup race. At the end of the season, the driver compiling the most fastest laps is declared the Gatorback champion for the season. Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, will receive the 2005 Gatorback Fastest Lap solid crystal trophy, along with check for $75,000, at the season-ending NASCAR banquet at New York in December. Stewart has dominated the Nextel Cup field by posting eight fastest laps this season. His closest challenge came from rival #16-Greg Biffle, who has recorded five fastest laps. With one race to go, Stewart is out of reach of the competition. Gatorback Poly-V belts were introduced at the 2002 Daytona 500 on rookie Cup driver Jimmie Johnson's pole-sitting racecar. Today, every Nextel Cup car uses the same straight-off-the-shelf belts that race fans can purchase from auto parts stores and installers. Goodyear has supplied belts to NASCAR for 24-years and is the exclusive NASCAR Performance licensee of automotive aftermarket belts and hose. For more information, visit goodyearbeltsandhose.com. (Goodyear PR)
Nov. 10, 2005:
Stewart to appear on SpeedFreaks: The Mopar Speedshop will play host to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship contender and Team Mopar open-wheel boss Tony Stewart, as he sits down with Speed Channel's "SpeedFreaks" on Saturday, November 12. Shot on location at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nev., Stewart will chat with hosts Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys, Statt Mann Caruthers and Lugg Nuttz from the Mopar Speedshop, beginning at 12:30 a.m. EST. The famous DJ duo Crystal Method will also join the SpeedFreaks on the Mopar stage. The Mopar Speedshop is a traveling image center that features interactive displays, plasma screens, Mopar Performance Parts and technical information. (SPEED)
Oct. 25, 2005:
Stewart & KaBOOM to build playground on Thursday: The Home Depot, in partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing and the national non-profit organization KaBOOM!, will have their ninth “Racing to Play” playground build on Thursday at Sumner Park in East Point, Ga. There, Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Bobby Labonte and J.J. Yeley, along with Joe Gibbs Racing crew members, will volunteer their time and energy. The “Racing to Play” program identifies and works with 10 organizations in select race markets to build racing-themed KaBOOM! playgrounds in a single day at the organization’s site. The program targets organizations that serve children, including those that support at-risk youth and provide positive after-school and learning environments. The first eight builds were in Jackson, Mich.; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Markham, Ill.; Indianapolis; Pomona, Calif.; Richmond, Va.; Talladega, Ala.; and Kansas City, Kan., respectively, while the 10th and final build is scheduled for Nov. 10 at Longview Elementary School in Phoenix. (JGR PR)
Oct. 21, 2005:
Stewart wins pole, breaking track record: Tony Stewart captured the pole for Sunday's Subway 500 Nextel Cup race at the Martinsville Speedway. The No.20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet driver circled the tight 0.526-mile short track in a track record 19.306 seconds (98.084 m.p.h.). Ryan Newman owned the old mark, 19.513 seconds, set in October 2004. A total of 11 drivers bettered Newman's old time. The pole victory was Stewart's third of the season and 10th of his "Cup" career. "The qualifying package was real good and our race trim package seems to be real good too," said Stewart. "I'm pretty excited about Sunday already." Starting on the front row with Stewart will be veteran and local favorite Ricky Rudd (Chesapeake, VA) who posted a second-best time of 19.324 seconds. "Chase for the Nextel Cup" drivers Rusty Wallace (19.336) and Newman (19.340) make up the second row. (Sports Network - Line Up)
Oct. 3, 2005:
Zipadelli Wins WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award: Tony Stewart may not have won the UAW-Ford 500 this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, but he performed in award-winning fashion. Stewart led the parade 11 times for a race high total of 65 laps before claiming second-place in one of the season’s most thrilling finishes. Stewart’s big day brought his crew chief Greg Zipadelli the WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award. Although Stewart made his top-five run look easy, but his finish didn’t come without a roadblock. The Home Depot Chevrolet seemed to battle overheating problems from the start of the race. Despite pulling all of the tape off the grill of the #20 machine, the temperature continued to climb before finally reaching 275 degrees. Water began to leave the engine, which gave Zipadelli no choice but to sacrifice his driver’s track position and attempt fix the problem. The team made an extended stop on pit road to refill the engine and cool the motor. Zipadelli’s plan got Stewart back on the track without losing any laps. Stewart battled back to claim second-place. More importantly, his race day comeback put him back on top of the championship point standings. “The Home Depot Chevrolet was pretty good, but we had an overheating problem,” said Zipadelli. “We probably had a little too much tape on it and in traffic it got too hot. It pushed some water out, so we had to put some water in it. I think we got an air bubble in it. Once we got that worked out, we went to the front and led a bunch of laps afterwards. Everybody on the team did a great job today and we got the points lead back. That’s the most important thing.” Doug Richert leads the WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five wins. Alan Gustafson and Greg Zipadelli are tied for second-place with three wins. Bob Osborne, Jimmy Fennig, Robbie Reiser and Robbie Loomis are tied for third-place with two wins. Tommy Baldwin, Scott Miller, Fatback McSwain, Steve Hmiel, Greg Erwin, Slugger Labbe, Chad Knaus and Pete Rondeau are in a tie for fourth place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000. (SMC 500)
Oct. 1, 2005:
Stewart on the Chris Myers Show: NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is brash, unforgiving and willing to do anything to win. He has managed to become racing's hero and villain simultaneously. Not afraid of bumping another driver to gain just the slightest open space he can exploit, Stewart is also deeply respectful of the sport and his competitors. As he prepares to try to climb up the standings from fifth to first in the Nextel Chase for the Cup, he sits down for a candid interview with Chris Myers, touching on NASCAR, team owner Joe Gibbs and why the media is convinced he hates Jeff Gordon. CMI: THE CHRIS MYERS INTERVIEW WITH TONY STEWART is telecast on Sun., Oct. 2 at 10:30 PM local. Stewart, the 2002 NASCAR points champion, is one of the most intense drivers in racing. His outbursts on the track make sports television highlights and NASCAR's lowlights. When he feels another driver made a mistake that cost him, Stewart is quick to show his displeasure. His screaming rants at other drivers are legendary in NASCAR circles. And because he knows that unlike most professions, every time he gets in a car, it's a life and death situation, Stewart sees no reason to hide his emotions. Myers gets Stewart to open up about those emotions, why he thinks he'll stick with smaller tracks after his career is over and asks Stewart point blank about his on-track rivalry with Jeff Gordon. (FSN PR)
Sep. 29, 2005:
Stewart helps to build Racing themed playground in Talladega: NASCAR driver Tony Stewart along with volunteers from The Home Depot, Joe Gibbs Racing, KaBOOM! and members of the Talladega, Ala., community are joining forces to build a racing-themed playground in just one day at Hal Henderson Elementary School. The playground is part of The Home Depot's Racing to Play program that is aimed at making a lasting, positive impression in the lives of at-risk children who live in NASCAR race communities. The playground's design is based on drawings by children from the school and will provide a safe and healthy play space. The school's playground equipment is more than 50 years old and is unsafe for daily use by the more than 220 children that attend the school. This project is part of KaBOOM! and The Home Depot's effort to create and refurbish 1,000 playspaces in 1,000 days. During the month of September, The Home Depot is leading a Corporate Month of Service in which nearly 30 corporations and organizations pledge to contribute 500,000 volunteer hours toward more than 2,000 community service projects that will impact the lives of more than 2 million people. (Talladega Superspeedway PR)
Sep. 23, 2005:
Stewart and Pettys among those starting Sprint Car League: Sprint car racing's biggest names have split into two separate series for 2006, drivers confirmed Wednesday. The World of Outlaws, owned by DIRT Motorsports, will retain five of its 18 full-time drivers — Altoona's Terry McCarl, Craig Dollansky, Brooke Tatnell, Daryn Pittman and Donny Schatz — and plans to add more for 2006. "I'm a loyal person," said McCarl, who stands 11th in Outlaws points this season. "This group didn't offer any reason to leave them." Danny Lasoski, who drives for Tony Stewart Motorsports, represents one of 13 current Outlaws teams who have signed with the National Sprintcar League for the 2006 season. The group is backed by Petty Enterprises and has lured drivers such as Steve and Kraig Kinser, Jason Meyers and Tim Shaffer. Lasoski's concerns with DIRT included the lack of live television - Outlaws events air on the Outdoor Channel on a tape-delayed basis. He expects the Petty organization to rectify that situation, although no TV package is set yet. He added that NASCAR names such as Stewart, Kasey Kahne, the Pettys and Dave Blaney would field cars in the National Sprintcar League next season. (Des Monies Register)
Stewart supports Bodine's Bobsledding Challenge: If the names on the driver’s agreement are any indication, the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge, slated for Lake Placid, N.Y. Jan. 5-9, may draw some of NASCAR’s biggest names, including Nextel Cup leader, Tony Stewart. The event will be held at the Verizon Sports Complex, five miles from Lake Placid, and is a fundraiser to benefit ongoing efforts to improve sled technology currently being used by the United States Bobsled Teams. The one-mile long, 20-curve Lake Placid course is recognized as one of the most demanding on the World Cup circuit. After the recent commitment from NASCAR driver Boris Said, another six, including Stewart, have signed an agreement supporting the Lake Placid event. All tickets for the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge are general admission and go on sale October 1 at the Olympic Center Box Office in Lake Placid. Call 518-523-3330 between 8:30 am and 5 pm. You may also purchase tickets on-line at www.bodynbobsled.com. (Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge)
Sep. 22, 2005:
Stewart Crashes again at Lowest testing: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point leader Tony Stewart and championship contender Greg Biffle each crashed for the second time in less than 30 hours Wednesday at Lowe's Motor Speedway as five teams made final preparations for the Oct. 15 UAW-GM Quality 500. Neither Stewart nor Biffle were injured and both were able to drive their heavily damaged cars back to the garage area. Bouncing back from his hard crash Tuesday afternoon, Stewart was consistently quick throughout the testing session and recorded the fastest lap of the evening just moments before a cut right-front tire sent the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet into the Turn 3 SAFER Barrier. (LMS PR) The unofficial speeds:
Showing driver, car number and speed:
1. Tony Stewart, 20, 186.935
2. Kyle Busch, 5, 185.452
3. Kurt Busch, 97, 184.237
4. Scott Wimmer, 22, 183.511
5. Greg Biffle, 16, 182.414.
Sep. 21, 2005:
Stewart among 4 drivers wrecking at Lowest testing: NASCAR points leader Tony Stewart crashed during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday, raising serious questions about the track surface. Stewart crashed his Chevrolet after running just a handful of laps, then ended his session because of a headache. He met briefly with track president Humpy Wheeler before heading home. Also wrecking during the test session were Greg Biffle, who is second in the points and had his accident with just over an hour left of track time, and Mike Bliss and Boris Said. None of the drivers were injured. Wheeler used a grinding process called "levigating" in the turns of the track earlier this year to smooth out the trademark bumps in an effort to foster more side-by-side racing. After a NASCAR-record 22 cautions during the May race, Wheeler went back and levigated the rest of the surface. None of the drivers participating in Tuesday's test session think the changes helped. "I don't remember any of the drivers asking for changes," Stewart told reporters before leaving. "You've got to give Humpy credit for trying to make the track better. He actually made it worse instead." (WRAL) The top-10 unofficial speeds:
1. #36-Boris Said 185.376
2. #16-Greg Biffle 184.938
3. #6-Mark Martin 184.414
4. #07-Dave Blaney 183.692
5. #31-Jeff Burton 183.636
6. #21-Ricky Rudd 182.420
7. #18-Bobby Labonte 182.168
8. #00-David Reutimann 181.996
9. #97-Kurt Busch 181.366
10. #22-Scott Wimmer 180.644. (LMS PR)
Sep. 20, 2005:
Stewart wins SPEED Channel's Third Quarter DOTY: Tony Stewart, who smoked the race tracks in NASCAR Nextel Cup series, fired up the voting among the media and the fans, easily winning the Speed Channel DRIVER OF THE YEAR third quarter, 2005. "It's an honor to be named the third quarter Driver of The Year,” said Stewart, the 2002 Nextel Cup Champion. “I didn't do it alone, though, as I had a great race team in Joe Gibbs Racing providing me with great race cars. Stewart drove the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet, into victory lane at the quarter’s opening race, the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway and hasn’t slowed to lookin his rear-view mirrors. Following an emotional win at the Allstate 400, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Stewart - known as “Smoke” - took over the points lead and held it as the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup started this Sunday. During the 12 weeks of the third quarter Stewart amassed an unmatched record of five wins and no finish worse than eighth. (SPEED)
Sep. 17, 2005:
Tony Stewart wins the Pole: Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet, qualified on the pole for Sunday's Sylvania 300 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway. "We definitely have a good race car," said Stewart. "Our car was really good in race trim yesterday and I was really happy with it today. I think that was the best lap I've ever run at Loudon. This is the perfect place to start when you're in the Chase." Stewart toured the 1.058-mile oval in 29.043 seconds with an average speed of 131.143 mph. Stewart's Joe Gibbs Racing teammates - Bobby Labonte and J.J. Yeley - qualified 17th and 29th, respectively. Labonte clocked a time of 29.435 seconds with an average speed of 129.396 mph, while Yeley timed in at 29.651 seconds with an average speed of 128.454 mph. This was Stewart's ninth career Bud Pole position in 239 races, with his most recent pole coming 10 races ago at Daytona (Fla.). JGR has now accumulated 35 Nextel Cup pole positions in its 14-year history. Rounding out the top-five in qualifying were Jeff Gordon (29.058 seconds at 131.075 mph), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (29.124 seconds at 130.777 mph), Matt Kenseth (29.149 seconds at 130.666 mph) and Scott Riggs (29.194 seconds at 130.465 mph). (Joe Gibbs Racing PR)
Sep. 14, 2005:
Stewart media tour, includes Late Show tonight, NBC Today, ESPN: Riding a 12-race summer hot streak that includes five wins, a pole and 12 straight top-10 finishes, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Tony Stewart has caught the attention of mainstream media. The driver of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing will appear tonight on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman." There, Stewart and Letterman - both of whom are Indiana natives - will no doubt discuss their stirring victories at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stewart won the Aug. 7 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard as a driver, while Letterman won the 2004 Indianapolis 500 as an owner with his driver, Buddy Rice. Stewart will maintain his national television presence with a Thursday morning visit to NBC's "Today" show. Following his trip to 30 Rockefeller Center, Stewart will appear on a variety of ESPN outlets, most notably ESPN2's "Cold Pizza" and ESPNEWS' "Hot List." Continuing the ESPN theme, Stewart is on the cover of this week's ESPN Magazine. Writer Tom Friend spent a day with Stewart prior to the Labor Day weekend Nextel Cup race at California Speedway, and before the interview, talked with numerous friends and family members to complete one of the most in-depth profiles of the 24-time Nextel Cup race victor. (JGR PR)
Sep. 12, 2005:
Stewart to appear on Late Show with David Lettermen: CBS says Nextel Cup points leader Tony Stewart is scheduled to appear on the "Late Show With
