Racing sensation Tony Stewart is fulfilling a dream as he prepares to climb behind the wheel of the #20 Home Depot Pontiac to chase the coveted NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year title in 1999. At age 27, Columbus, Indiana, native Stewart has accumulated an impressive list of motorsports accomplishments. He is a former Indy Racing League (IRL) Champion, sat on the pole at his first Indianapolis 500 and the only driver to win three United States Auto Club (USAC) major division championships in one year. Stewart started his racing career in Go Karts, capturing both the International Karting Foundation and World Karting Association national championships before moving to Three-Quarter (TQ) Midgets. He quickly climbed to the top of the TQ ranks and turned his attention to USAC midgets and sprint cars. In 1995, Stewart became the first driver in USAC history to win the series’ top three divisions all in one year -- midget, sprint car and Silver Crown -- garnering what is known as the Triple Crown." Despite his roots in Indiana soil and open wheel racing, since childhood Stewart’s eyes have been set on a career in NASCAR. In 1997, after studying Stewart’s climb up the American motorsports ladder of success, NASCAR Winston Cup and NHRA team owner Joe Gibbs offered him that opportunity. Seeing the makings of a winner in Stewart, Gibbs signed him to begin his NASCAR career in the Busch Grand National (BGN) division with the goal to take the talented young driver to NASCAR Winston Cup. Stewart drove five BGN races in 1997 recording two top-ten and one top-five finishes. He ran in 22 BGN events in 1998, recording two poles, five top-five and five top-ten finishes. This personable young man has been named to the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) All-American First Team three times in the last four years. Stewart is a fan favorite as well and sometimes spends hours signing autographs and posing for photos."
