Next up in PTR’s Career Statistics article series for retired NASCAR drivers is Tony Stewart. Coming from open-wheeled racing (IndyCar) in the 90’s, Tony Stewart went to race stock cars full-time the remainder of his racing career. Tony Stewart was an aggressive and flamboyant race car driver with a long and prosperous racing career. His racing style was “on the edge” and caused many discussions – both from journalists and race fans all over the world. I think stock car racing will not be the same without Tony Stewart behind the wheel.
Anthony Wayne “Tony” Stewart
Born: Columbus, Indiana on May 20, 1971
Education: Columbus North High School and graduated in 1989
Nickname: “Smoke”
NASCAR Career achievements
2016 USAC Hall of Fame
2011 Sprint Cup Series Champion
2005, 2007, 2012 Gatorade Duel Winner
2009 Sprint All-Star Race winner
2006, 2008, 2009 Prelude to the Dream Winner
2006 IROC champion
2005 Nextel Cup Series Champion
2005, 2007 Brickyard 400 Winner
2002, 2007 Chili Bowl Winner
2002 Winston Cup Series Champion
2001, 2002, 2007 Budweiser Shootout Winner
2000 Turkey Night Grand Prix Winner
1997 Indy Racing League Champion
1995 USAC Triple Crown Champion
1994 USAC National Midget Series Champion
NASCAR Career Awards
2001 National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductee
1999 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year
1996 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career
618 races run over 18 years
2016 position: 15th
Best finish: 1st (2002, 2005, 2011)
First race: 1999 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last race: 2016 Ford EcoBoost 400 (Homestead)
First win: 1999 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 (Richmond)
Last win: 2016 Toyota/Save Mart 350 (Sonoma)
Wins: 49 Top tens: 309 Poles: 15
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
94 races run over 14 years
2013 position: 96th
Best finish: 21st (1998)
First race: 1996 Goody’s Headache Powder 300 (Daytona)
Last race: 2013 DRIVE4COPD 300 (Daytona)
First win: 2005 Hershey’s Take 5 300 (Daytona)
Last win: 2013 DRIVE4COPD 300 (Daytona)
Wins: 11 Top tens: 41 Poles: 6
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
6 races run over 5 years
Best finish: 61st (2005)
First race: 1996 Cummins 200 (IRP)
Last race: 2005 MBNA RacePoints 200 (Dover)
First win: 2002 Virginia Is For Lovers 200 (Richmond)
Last win: 2003 Virginia Is For Lovers 200 (Richmond)
Wins: 2 Top tens: 5 Poles: 0
IndyCar Series career
26 races run over 5 years
Teams: Team Menard, Tri-Star Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing
Best finish: 1st (1997)
First race: 1996 Indy 200 (Disney)
Last race: 2001 Indianapolis 500 (Indy)
First win: 1997 Samsonite 200 (Pikes Peak)
Last win: 1998 New England 200 (Loudon)
Wins: 3 Podiums: 7 Poles: 8
Source: Wikipedia, racing-reference.info
Photo credits: Blaine Ohigashi/Getty Images (NASCAR Media.com)