Tony Stewart, a 49-time winner and three-time champion of the NASCAR Cup Series, has been selected as an inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022, as announced on Tuesday’s coverage of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.
Stewart joins Bob Frey, Eric Gordon, Terry Gray, and Tim Green as the driver inductees for the class of 2022.
Ralph Heintzelman, Walter T. Ross, Dennis Roth, Johnny Gibson, Jack Kromer, Robin Miller, and Walter “Slim” Rutherford, were also inducted into the MSDHoF, under various categories.
The Columbus, Indiana-native is the owner and operator of Tony Stewart Racing (TSR), which has competed and won in multiple different divisions of dirt racing, collecting championships in multiple divisions of sprint cars.
TSR has captured seven owner’s championships in the USAC National Sprint Car Series with drivers JJ Yeley, Jay Drake, Josh Wise, and Levi Jones, as well as five championships in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series with Donny Schatz. The organization currently fields a full-time entry for Schatz in the WoO Sprint Car Series.
As a competitor, Stewart has spent the majority of his racing career involved in the sprint car world, racing in multiple divisions before, during, and after his tenure in NASCAR.
In 1995, Stewart became the first driver to capture the USAC Triple Crown in a single season, by capturing the USAC National Midget Championship, USAC Silver Crown Series, and USAC National Sprint Car Series Championship.
Stewart is the sole owner of Eldora Speedway in Rosburg, Ohio, a half-mile dirt track that hosts the Kings Royal, one of the largest and most prestigious sprint car events in the United States. The NASCAR star has also had involvement in the ownership of Macon Speedway and the now-defunct Paducah International Raceway.
In 2015, Stewart made his first venture into ownership of a racing series, purchasing the All Star Circuit of Champions. Eventually, Stewart entered an additional agreement for the Renegade Sprint Series to merge with his newly-purchased series, to run under the all-star name.
One Response
Congratulations, Tony. I was not aware you were racing sprint cars enough to qualify for their HOF. I am very happy for you. What a good year you’re having!!!! Congratulations again.