FORT WORTH, Texas -- Tony Stewart climbs fences. He also
helps design them.
The two-time and reigning Nextel Cup champion, who seems to be a
long way from retirement as one of NASCAR's biggest stars, already
has a second career. And he's gotten involved in everything as a
dirt track owner at the grassroots facility where he got his racing
start.
The driver of the No. 20 orange Home Depot Chevrolet, who has
made scaling fences part of his victory celebrations, owns famed
Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. The track is a long way from the
glitz and glamor of NASCAR's top circuit, and Stewart quickly had
to confront his biggest challenge so far.
"Well, it was probably the first night, the women's restroom in
the pits being stopped up," Stewart said. "So, the first night I
realized it was a lot more than just turning on the lights, open
the gates, sell tickets, hot dogs and the race goes fine."
Stewart purchased Eldora in November 2004 from Earl Baltes, who
retired because of health problems after owning and operating the
facility for 51 years.
Stewart's work at the track even involves pre-race
entertainment. ("I don't think we are going to have the military
come do shows, because we don't have a big enough infield.")
Stewart, fifth in the Cup standings going into a rare weekend
off for the series, said his track ownership already is helping
shape his post-racing career.
"There is going to be a day that I am not going to be able to
drive race cars any more and you sit there and wonder, 'Well, what
are you going to do with the rest of your life?" said Stewart,
who turns 35 on May 20. "I have something now that I can dedicate
the rest of my life to helping what got me to this level: To help
other drivers come through Eldora Speedway in their quest to get
here also."
The Indiana native also owns teams in the World of Outlaws and
USAC racing series. In 1991, he got his start at Eldora -- billed as
"Auto Racing's Showcase since 1954." Stewart still runs in
special events on the half-mile dirt track with other Cup drivers
and dirt-track regulars.
"Obviously, we do have a different angle that other short
tracks don't because of who we are with NASCAR," he said.
"Hopefully, what we are doing is opening the eyes of corporate
America to the value of short-track racing."
Stewart believes dealing with ownership issues has helped him
better understand the way things are done at NASCAR.
"Now that I own a race track, I kind of understand why things
are done a little differently, just learning about all the
different aspects of a race," he said. "I have been to Eldora as
a driver, a crew member, a spectator, as a team owner and now as
the promoter. When I go there, whoever comes up and talks to me, I
can at least try to look at their side and understand their side. I
love it. I really do enjoy it."
Stewart, whose championships date to a karting title at age 8,
has come a long way since his early days at Eldora. He was the
first driver in history to win USAC's Triple Crown in 1995 and he
won the IRL series title in 1997. He was the first IRL driver to
successfully transition into NASCAR, where he won series
championships in 2002 and last year.
This season, Stewart already has five top-five finishes through
seven races, including a victory at Martinsville and a third-place
finish last weekend in Texas, where he led for 99 laps before being
passed by winner Kasey Kahne with 27 laps to go.
His endeavors off the track make Stewart quite a multitasker.
Last week, Stewart got a chance to work on his celebratory fence
climb when he won the second round of the International Race of
Champions. With thousands of fans cheering him on, he obliged,
climbing the fence to get the checkered flag.
In the days before going to Texas, Stewart was back at Eldora,
working on catch fence design.
"We are getting ready to expand the restrooms on the grandstand
side; it is a big project to double the size to handle the
capacity," Stewart said. "I am just excited about it."
No word on whether improvements at Eldora will prompt him to
climb his own fence.
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On the Net:
http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/