Tony Stewart began racing at the ripe old age of 7 on a go-kart track in Westport, Indiana in 1978. He won his third NASCAR championship in 2011. In between, well, he’s done a lot.
Stewart drives the #14 car, a Chevy, sponsored by Office Depot and Mobil 1. As of 2008 he is both the driver and the owner (or at least co-owner along with Margaret Haas as half of Stewart-Haas Racing). The move was considered risky at the time, as no driver/owner had won a Championship in over 15 years. In fact, no driver/owner had won even a single race on the Sprint Cup Series since 1999. Stewart would end the latter drought almost immediately and the former in his third season as owner/driver.
Stewart has a long and successful history in racing. As a youth he won the International Karting Foundation Grand National Title in 1983. He went on to compete in various racing leagues and formats, winning accolades at every level until he finally joined NASCAR’s top circuit full time in 1999 as a member of Joe Gibbs Racing. He won three races and Rookie of the Year honors in his first full year. He’s finished in the top 10 in points every year but one (2006, when he finished 11th) since then.
In his thirteen-year career in the Cup Series, Stewart has notched at least one victory every season, the longest streak among all active drivers. Only once during that run was he limited to a single victory in a season (2008).
Since winning the Sprint Cup Championship in November 2011, Stewart has not rested on his laurels. Always willing to rock the boat – even a boat that just won a Championship two weeks before – Stewart fired crew chief Darian Grubb, who had been with Stewart since the inception of Stewart-Haas racing. He was replaced by Kurt Busch’s former chief, Steve Addington.
Off the track, Tony Stewart devotes considerable time and effort to his charitable foundation. He raises money for chronically ill children, injured drivers, and the protection of endangered species. His charitable endeavors earned him the title of “Most Caring Athlete” in 2004, according to USA Weekend as well as several similar honors from other organizations.
(Photo: U.S. Air Force)
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