Tony Stewart

In his rookie season, Tony Stewart has made a name for himself on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit. Driving for legendary football coach Joe Gibbs, Stewart is a championship contender in auto racing's premier series.

Stewart won the 1983 International Karting Foundation Grand National Championsip and the 1987 World Karting Association National Championship. Moving on to midgets, he was named Rookie of the Year in the Indianapolis Speedrome Midget Series in 1991. That same year, he was also the USAC Sprint Car Rookie of the Year.

In 1997, Stewart was named Indy Racing League's Rookie of the Year. The following season he won the IRL Championship. Stewart then became just the second person in history to race in both the Indy 500 and Coca Cola 600 in the same day, recording a top-10 finish in each event.

Currently fifth in the Winston Cup standings, Stewart is a virtual lock for another Rookie of the Year award.

 

Rookie Tony Stewart is making a big impact in Winston Cup racing. (Allsport)

What were your expectations prior to this rookie season?
We hoped to make all the races and have good enough luck throughout the year to finish the majority of them. The way the track changes during each race, you can take that knowledge when you go back the next time. With the success we've had, we have not changed our game plan. It's one of those things -- if it's not broken, you don't fix it. Our attitude has stayed the same every race and it seems to be working for us. We're just going to stick to our game plan as far as just trying make the races each week and learn as much as possible. I think in the back of all of our minds, we want to win a race before the year is over.

How did you know?
I just knew from watching it on TV. If I had the choice of watching a football game, basketball or a race, it was a no-brainer -- I was always interested in racing. I always went to races as a child and I just knew that was where my interest was.

What is it like to drive for Joe Gibbs?
It's great. You can tell why the guy has won Super Bowl championships because he is just a great leader. He doesn't tell me how to drive a racecar. He doesn't tell my crew chief how to set up the car. He lets us do our jobs. And he gets the right people assembled so we are as efficient as we need to be. He's really good at dealing with people. When you have a guy like him that can do that, it is the kind of guy you need to build a championship team.

I read that you were a Redskins fan. Have you always rooted for them?
Only since I started working with Joe.

Which team did you root for growing up?
I'm not a huge football fan, but I always paid attention to what the Colts were doing, being from Indiana.

What is your choice of vehicle off the track?
I've got 545I BMW in Indiana and I drive a GMC Yukon in North Carolina.

If your car hit a parked car and you're sure no one saw you, what would you do?
I'm gone.

How are you as a passenger when your friends drive?
I'm a terrible passenger. I'm constantly a backseat driver.

Is it hard for you to drive 55 on the highway?
Nobody drives 55 on the highway. Do you drive 55 on the highway?

Ah, no.
There you go. What really makes me mad on the highway is when people sit out in the left lane and they are holding up traffic and not passing anybody.

Have you ever been pulled over for speeding?
Today?

So what happens when you get pulled over?
Lately, it's been kind of interesting. The last time the guy knew who I was. He laughed and said, 'I'm not going to waste my time with you. Just be careful.'

What are you intimidated by?
The crowds more than anything. When I say intimidated, it is just from the standpoint of when you see that many people on Sunday, it's overwhelming sometimes. It's also exciting to go to the track and see so many fans.

What is your pet peeve?
I don't like being bothered before the race. I want to do my own thing and have time to myself.

What do you always do before a race?
I hide in the trailer and hang out with the guys. At that point, we've done everything we can do so we sit back and think of our gameplan and try to relax and get ready for the race.

Which of the veteran drivers have been the most help to you this year?
All the drivers that I've been around have been very helpful. Bobby Labonte and Mike Skinner in particular have really taken me under their wing and said this is what you've got to look out for. In casual conversation with drivers they will often say, 'I know you haven't been here very long but watch out for this place on the track.' A lot of that is because they don't want you to make a mistake in front of them. They figure if they can help you out and keep you from making mistakes, they don't have to worry about you causing a big accident.

For each of the following sports figures, what is the first word that comes to mind?
Dale Jarrett: Determined.
Dale Earnhardt: Tough.
Mark Martin: Impressive.
Joe Gibbs: Unbelievable.
Tony Stewart: Aggressive.

Who do you most admire in auto racing, past or present?
A.J. Foyt because he can drive anything. Anything he drove, he was always successful.

Who has been your greatest influence?
My father.

What has he taught you?
He's taught me a bunch about racing and he taught me commitment at a young age. This was my dream and he showed me what I needed to do to achieve that dream. Work ethic and keeping the desire in my heart and not letting disappointments take that dream away, was a lot of what he gave me.

What is a perfect day?
It would seem like a marathon because I would win every big race in the world. I would want to win the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500, the Knoxville Nationals, the 24 hours of LeMans and a variety of sprint car races. That would be the perfect day -- win all the races I've dreamed of winning.