Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Tony Stewart had barely made the short walk from victory lane to his pit area, and already a makeshift autograph line snaked halfway around the interior of the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center.

Did the sometimes bad boy of racing scowl, glare at a photographer or brush past his adoring fans?

Hardly. He simply plopped in a chair, picked up a Sharpie and kept signing anything and everything till they turned out the lights.

“I just love coming here,’’ the two-time NASCAR champion said after making another triumph return to his racing roots Saturday night, dominating the USAC midget feature that capped the 10th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne indoor races.

“This car is always fun to drive,” he said of his nearly 20-year-old Munchkin chassis, which has taken him to five victories in eight races here since 2004. “But a lot of it is the fans. It’s not like going to a NASCAR race.

“I love my NASCAR fans, but the open-wheel fans are so polite and respectful. Everybody is saying thank you, nobody’s cutting in line, nobody’s saying you gotta do this, you gotta do that, like at a NASCAR track.

“If people want to know why I’m happy, look around. It’s the people.”

Fenders are like vacuums... they both suck.

I remember the Munchkin. I saw it do moves unheard of at the Speedrome. Of course I saw it on tv.

Funny how we bitch when they don't give back and when they do. I'm certain if I look in my backyard I'll see where I do it too.

Support our troops. Their hearts still believe in us.

Way to go "Smoke"!

I'll have to cheer for him on dirt, 'cause he'll get no cheers from me driving that Joe Gibbs POS in '08!

______________________________________________________
"The Posse has been handing it to the Outlaws longer 
than the World of Outlaws has been winning the 
Knoxville Nationals. Quaker State skills are never on 
trial." - Kevin Eckert

tremendous driver. and thats a cool story.

I think anyone who was there could attest, he definitely looked relaxed and happy. Even before the he went to victory lane, I heard people in the stands talking about running into him on the walkway and getting his autograph with no problems. Not the same "mean Tony" that doesn't sign autographs. He should go back to real racing so he can be happy more often. He's too much fun to watch in midgets, sprints, heck, even late models.

The Mermaid

Tony is standing up for our corner. In the eighties I got so tired trying to convince the world our guys were every bit as good. NOW, we finally have some representatives and Tony sets a fine example.

When someone else comes in to fill his shoes,oh how they have tried to look as if they are, then I would be glad to see him retire to the arenas we are used to.

I would rather see Tony and his kind get the big bucks than some pencil d***ed richboy from another

zone. We have the right not to make the same mistakes on any level like F-1 or Indy Cars. Those guys gave up the realness of this sport for the Benjamins. We don't have to. Watch the opening laps of the Chili Bowl, barnstorming at its best. Micheal Schumacher and Micheal Andretti know NOT to enter this arena. These dogs eat what they hunt.

NASCRAP benefits from what a kickass,upright, open wheel, bullring driver brings to the table. And I no longer feel any need to make any excuses.

Support our troops. Their hearts still believe in us.

And the Chili Bowl is only two nights away...... Go Smoke!!!!!!

Fenders are like vacuums... they both suck.

He needs to go to Japan and stay there. His love for money has taken over all his other qualities just like every other pathetic soul in NASCAR. He knows better but is ignoring his conscience. I would rather have the guy's autograph that cleans the toilet at the Chili Bowl.

The hopeless desire to outrun Bud Grimm's Fords is 
why central PA became the toughest place to race on 
the planet. Even the KING couldn't run with Casey 
Luna's Fords on a tacky track. It's a crying shame 
that current car owners failed to notice.

and I bet Smoke would prefer that you do go to the bowl cleaner lol.

He has Chevy for a sponsor, the Toyota deal is with his car, not him you know.

Sad that Toyota builds their trucks and cars in America with AMERICAN workers and Chevrolet builts theirs in Mexico, but what can I say, Ford builds theirs in Canada.

Save your butt, get a colon screening TODAY

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Tony is a racing great...anyone who disagrees with that is clueless.....if you are a fan of short track racing.....you have to the love the guy.....he has done so much for our sport.....he shows true love for it and helps grow new fans...that is what we need to keep going......look at when he raced Skagit.....fluke steering break....it happens, but that track was SOLD OUT. I miss that for short track racing.....the Chili Bowl is one of the greatest examples of why short track racing is the best kind of racing in the world....

Brent

I have to agree, even though I'm not really a big "smoke" fan. He came to Madera Ca. in 2003 as the defending NASCAR CUP champ, and raced at the inaugural "Fred Gerhardt Classic". He raced all 3 divisions(USAC Natl. midget, USAC Western sprint, and SRL supermodified) and had a blast! How many NASCAR champs(defending no less) can say that??? He does do alot, and supports his roots of racing, more than anyone. I always wished that Gordon would have done the same, but that's just a pipe dream.........

"RED EYES, WHITE KNUCKLES, and DIRTY BRITCHES!" 

I don't understand why people get so pissed off at the nacar guys invading dirt tracks or the short tracks all across the land.They all started there some where, most of us have all grown up,moved away from home and gone back to the town they came from. Tony is the best example of a short tracker with success that we have,,for cryin out loud people he owns eldora ...I like the fact that we have the Chili Bowl,it brings the best from every where together..I think some one needs to put some one like ricky carmichael in a focus car or even mcgrath. I know ricky is already trin pavement.its just an example. As for the fact that he runs chevys for his team and he drives yota's is irrelavent, when his sprint team with the dude started they had mopars and he was still in the chevy for gibbs.

get balls and run the top!!!

You know I remember Steve Kinser getting booed all the time during the 80s.....the truth is he "owned" the Outlaws during those times....history has a way of repeating itself....the best get booed usually from the winners circle....;-) GO TONY...Come from the B and go all the way :-)

Brent

Tony is always a class act at any dirt track I have ever seen him at, Wish I could say the same for the fans. Absolutely no reason guys like him and Kasey should need a Sheriff to go to the pits and hang out with the guys they know and grew up with. He just likes to race and supports his sport quite well. Good guy good racer good for our sport, glad I don't have to but heads with him.................

As Shakespeare said "Ah!! There's the rub!!". It seems like most people feel that you trade your "normal life" for celebrity. You aren't Tony Stewart anymore, you're TONY STEWART!!!! Or DONNY SCHATZ, or STEVE KINSER, or..well, you get the idea.

I dare say that almost all of the raers understand the need for interaction with the fans, and that nearly every one appreciates it and enjoys it. But everyone needs a little time of their own also, don't you think?

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

Yes, the love for money is a terrible thing! Howse bout you going to the soviet block instead. I'm sure they have plenty of toilet bowl cleaners over there. You might even get to work alongside of them. Oh they'll love money too, but the cool part is---there isn't any. Level playing field.

Support our troops. Their hearts still believe in us.

And wasn't Louis Chevrolet from France? lol!

"Just the facts ma'am", Sgt. Joe Friday, Detective, 
LAPD


Loyal WoO supporter since 1978