Tony Stewart's Career Highlights

SI Staff | Aug 13, 2007

Tony Stewart's Career Highlights /

Tony Stewart's Career Highlights

With victories in three of the last four NASCAR races, Tony Stewart is on a hot streak as the Cup drivers near the Chase. Here's a snapshot of his career, which began in go-karts and really took off when he switched to Sprint Car racing. He was the first driver in the series to win the three major USAC national championships - Midgets, Sprint Cars and Silver Crown.

October 11, 1997

Impressed by Stewart's Sprint Car talent, John Menard hired him to drive in the Indy Racing League. Both owner and driver became an immediate force, winning three times and scoring 10 Top 5 finishes in 24 career starts. They peaked on this day, when Stewart finished 11th at Las Vegas to win the second ever IRL title. He's the only driver to win a championship in both Indy Car and NASCAR Nextel Cup.

Februrary 21, 1998

After a handful of stock car starts that were met with little success from 1996-98, Stewart came into his own at Rockingham. He won the pole for the Busch Series race, led 60 laps and appeared to be a shoe-in for his first win - until he lost a heart-pounding battle to the finish line with Matt Kenseth. It was a strong indicator of what was to come in Cup the following year.

September 11, 1999

After several close calls during his rookie season, Stewart finally won for the first time in the Cup Series, at Rockingham. The first driver to win a race as a rookie since Davey Allison in 1987, Stewart won two more events - Phoenix and Homestead - en route to finishing 4th in the final standings and earning Rookie Of The Year honors.

June 24, 2001

In his third season in the series, Stewart was already a well-established star by the time he took home this checkered flag at the Cup road course in Sonoma, California. His first career NASCAR win on a track where you turn right as well as left, Stewart has since proved to be a force at these types of tracks -- he's won in five of his last 15 starts on Cup road courses, tops among all drivers this decade.

November 16, 2002

The 2002 season was full of highs and lows for Stewart - several confrontations with the media peaked with a confrontation with photographer Gary Mook, leaving Stewart on probation. He eventually got focused and took home his first career Cup title over perennial bridesmaid Mark Martin.

November 5, 2003

Stewart spends $1 million of his own money to donate to the charitable foundation Victory Junction Gang Camp for terminally ill children, much to the delight of founders Kyle and Pattie Petty. It's one of several major donations Stewart has made to the camp. Known as a fierce competitor on the track, he's been nothing but generous off it, as his Tony Stewart Foundation has raised millions for several good causes.

August 7, 2005

Growing up in Indiana, Stewart had always wanted to win at Indianapolis, but he saw possible victories in 2002 and 2003 slip away in the closing laps. Not this year - Stewart led a race-high 44 laps and held off a late challenge by Kasey Kahne to win his first Brickyard 400.

November 20, 2005

During a season in which Stewart was applauded for maturing off the track, his performance on the track was unmatched. A summer hot streak of five wins in seven races catapulted him into the point lead, and once the Chase began, he didn't let up, winning his second Cup trophy in four years.

July 29, 2007

Heading into this year's Brickyard 400 on a hot streak, the No. 20 was favored to win for the second time in three years. Stewart didn't disappoint, leading 65 of 160 laps and passing good friend Kevin Harvick with 10 laps to go. He climbed the Indy fences all over again, this time with his entire team.

Published Aug 13, 2007

SI STAFF