Stewart wins Darlington… finally!

After being in NASCAR ten years, Tony Stewart finally tamed the “lady in black” Friday night with his win in the Nationwide Series’ Diamond Hill Plywood 200!

To say the least, Stewart was thrilled.

“At the start of this year, there were still four tracks I haven’t won at and it was California, Las Vegas, Talladega and here (Darlington) and thanks to Dave and the guys on this 20 car on the Nationwide side, we’ve conquered three and should have won the fourth one, but not to be greedy, get four this year and three at the tracks that I haven’t won at, it’s, man with the rich heritage and history at Darlington, to win here and be the first guy to win after they resurfaced here, it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe. It’s just cool to win at Darlington.

It’s just fun, this series is so deep in history in general and this is one of those tracks that it’s history goes as deep as NASCAR and to finally win here, it’s just a huge honor to me.

Crew Chief Dave Rogers also had something good to say about Tony.

I saw Tony Stewart drive probably one of the smartest races I’ve seen here at Darlington.

(more…)

Posted in Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR, Tony Stewart | No Comments »

Arena Racing is back!

Thanks to Rich who sent me this information:

For those who need a live racing fix this fall and winter you can see some possible stars of tomorrow at Cricket Arena in Charlotte. It’s called indoor Arena Racing. These are basically go carts with car bodies on a 1/10 mile track that acts like Bristol. Racers range in age from 14 to 50 somethings. Last years champion was 14 at the time. Tony stewart has a car that he sponsors and last year was driven by his Uncle Del. Chrissy Wallace also participated last season. The program is somehow affiliated with JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and is a very clean family type event. They race on Saturdays, some Fridays and is not expensive ($10 G/A $12 Resv) I don’t know kid pricing but I know that it is reduced. They do have an upcoming special of 4 tickets and 4 hotdogs for $40. There are 15 events scheduled for Charlotte and last Sat was #2 so you can see that this will get you through to Daytona. If you live or plan to be in Charlotte I highly recommend this fast paced entertainmant. Speeds are in the 40mph range which may not sound fast but there are frequent roll-overs, side by side and ‘bumping’ and some body slamming. Racing starts at 7pm and typically is over before 10 so it’s not a late nite for the little ones (should you have any).

I saw them last year in the inaugural race and it was awesome. As you can see with the picture above, Tony Stewart and JJ Yeley are helping Denny Hamlin with his car. Also there was JD Gibbs, Kyle Busch, and watching from the sidelines Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, and Tony Eury, Jr.  To see more pics, click here.

Posted in Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR | 3 Comments »

JGR’s Struggle - Chevy to blame?

You know, I laid in bed and thought about something this morning. JGR has always been strong in Chevy’s… granted they didn’t a race in the first part of the year, but they came close way too many times, just never getting to seal the deal… but ever since they announced that they were going to Toyota next year - they have basically sucked.

Do you think that Chevy has stopped giving Joe Gibbs Racing the support that they usually have knowing that they are leaving them at the end of the season (and already preparing with Toyota for 2008)?

Thoughts? Opinions? Snide Remarks?

Posted in Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR, Tony Stewart | 3 Comments »

Congrats to Joey Logano!

From Jayski: Logano wins All-Star Showdown: Joey Logano, the 17-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, picked up his biggest victory Saturday night winning the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. He held off fellow Busch East driver Peyton Sellers, who turned 24 Saturday, following a green-white-checkered finish to the 250-lap event that has been dubbed the ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing’. Logano won six times during the Grand National regular season including his first career start in the West Series at Phoenix International Raceway in April. He became the first rookie to win a NASCAR Busch East title and set the record as the series’ youngest champion.

Full Results: (more…)

Posted in Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR | No Comments »

The best Stewart article to date….

This article is an absolutely read for any NASCAR fan, especially for people who are not fond of Tony Stewart - the man and the driver - because after reading this article (possibly the best ever by Marty Smith), you’ll understand the man, Smoke, better.

Plus, come on, the Icee pic is adorable!

The real Tony Stewart; not one who often shows up on TV
By Marty Smith
ESPN.com

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Tony Stewart groans a bit as he crouches down beside the left front tire of a lusty black Corvette Z06 for what seems like the 50th time. His brow is perpetually sweaty on this blazing hot fall afternoon, and he’s giving Chris, the makeup artist, a workout.

Blot … Powder … Blot … Powder …

Action!

Squirrrrrrt. The milky Armor All tire shine goo lines the sponge in a perfect vertical stripe, and Stewart swipes the tire left to right with a precise stroke honed by repetition and pinpoint advice from the director. The resulting gleam is impeccable.

Cut! (Applause.)

Out runs an Armor All scientist, flown in from California, to apply a rubbing alcohol and powder concoction that instantly makes the tire appear weathered again. Tricky.

Here comes Chris. Blot … Powder …

An onlooker is semi-heckling Stewart about his hair, a mane of thick black strands with a touch of gray that seems in dire need of a trim. On it grows, and for no other reason than because everyone keeps heckling him about it. Consummate Tony Stewart. (more…)

Posted in Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR, Tony Stewart | 2 Comments »

Bono a bunny?

So this morning was amazing… Tara got us into the DEIInsider brunch and there were only like 10 of us there if that… and Max Seigal, Bono Manion, Kerry Earnhardt, Paul Menard’s crew chief, Regan Smith, and two developmental drivers (one that’s going to be racing at SGMP soon and actually mentioned it. So we got to ask questions, I asked Bono how Martin has changed as a person and driver, and we got to meet them.

I finally got to find out if Max worked with Backstreet Boys while he was with Zomba and Jive and he said yes and asked was I a fan so I’m happy now that I know for sure lol I told Bono that I’ve been a Martin fan since he first started in Busch and took a pic with him, which.. Kerry Earnhardt proceeded to give him Bunny ears and I was like “ahhh, yes!”. (more…)

Posted in Adventures, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Martin Truex Jr, NASCAR | 4 Comments »

Tryin’ to get to you

Did I mention anytime in the past few days that I’m tired? Guess what? I’m tired. I can’t stop yawning today. Whenever I talk to someone whether in person or on the phone, I’m freakin’ yawning. That’s why shortly, I’m going to bed after I write this up, finish looking at the Topix boards to see how Tony’s show ends, and then going to go play with my Piper for a few. I have to take her out to the vet in the morning where she’s going to be staying for six days until we come back. It’s going to break my heart. The vet will be closed when my mom comes home tomorrow and won’t be open when we leave Thursday morning so… *sniff*

I’m getting a bit more excited now about the trip. It’s just the stress of everything that is going on around me with school and work that is making me not excited. This will probably be the last post I post before we leave for Charlotte… so the things we have planned: (more…)

Posted in Adventures, Personal, School, Work | 6 Comments »

2nd place King of Talladega

#20-Tony Stewart has finished second six times but never won a Cup race at Talladega, tying Bobby Allison at Martinsville and Mark Martin at Pocono for NASCAR’s near-miss record.Can he break past second place today? Hmmm, I think Junior might win.

Posted in NASCAR, Tony Stewart | 1 Comment »