tom_jensen's avatar
Author:
Tom Jensen
Login For More
Rate this article:
  • 0/5 Stars
  • Related Photos
  • Related Videos
SPEEDtv.com Store
Grand National:America's Golden Age of Motorcycle Racing, by Joe Scalzo
Joe Scalzo’s book captures the spirit of the Golden Age of motorcycle racing.
Our Price: $39.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Man-Made Thunder
The book examines the sport of stock car racing through the eyes and ears of the men behind the wheel and the wrenches.
Our Price: $49.00
Visit Button
Buy Button
Unisex Sandwich Cap
Unisex Velcro back hat with SPEED logo on front. PINKS logo embroidered on left and PAO logo on right. One size fits all.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Speedway T-shirt
Men's 6 oz. 100% Cotton Jersey Short Sleeve Tee. SPEED logo imprinted on the front center chest.
Our Price: $24.99
Visit Button
Buy Button
Ferrari Red Classic Hat
100% cotton twill. Ferrari shield embroidered on front, piping on the peak and Ferrari logo embroidered on back strap adjuster.
Our Price: $30.00 ($27.00 Member)
Visit Button
Buy Button
Footer Bg
  • Zoom More Photos Button
  • Camera Icon
CUP: Stewart Chilling These Days
Written by: Tom Jensen   
07/24/2008
Indianapolis, In.
 
Tony Stewart will be attempting for his third Brickyard win in four tries. (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images Photo) ยป More Photos

At long last, Tony Stewart can enjoy being back home at the Brickyard.

For years, first in IndyCars and then in NASCAR, the native Hoosier faced enormous — and mostly self-inflicted — pressure whenever he raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Stewart, who passionately wanted to win at the Brickyard, usually was on edge whenever he raced here, whether in the Indy 500 or the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

That all changed in 2005, when Stewart won his first NASCAR race at IMS and the huge burden on his back was lifted once and for all. And the pressure dropped even more after last year’s triumph. Now, Stewart can enjoy coming to the most famous race track in America instead of fretting over what might go wrong and keep him out of victory lane.

Stewart definitely will have some fun on Friday, when he introduces his 2009 car number, sponsors and paint scheme. For the record, Stewart’s new steed will be the No. 14 Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet with sponsorship expected to be from Office Depot and Old Spice. It will be a huge moment for Stewart, part of a big weekend that will come with considerably less pressure than in prior years.

“Every year that we went there, whether it was an IndyCar or a stock car and had not won there yet, just that pressure kept building,” said Stewart, a two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. “Once we won it in 2005, it took a lot of pressure off and then winning last year even took more pressure off. I think in all reality, after each time that you've won there, I think it makes it easier when you go
there.”

That said, Stewart would very much like to win his third Brickyard race in four tries.

“The pressure goes away, but the desire is still there, and I think if anything, it makes it easier to focus on what you're trying to do and what you're trying to accomplish because you don't sit there and wonder all weekend what would it be like to win,” said Stewart, who enters this weekend’s race ranked 10th in NASCAR Sprint Cup points. “You know what that feeling is like and you know what to do to accomplish that goal, and it's just a matter of going out and doing the work to accomplish it. But I think it takes a lot of the pressure off to where you can just focus better and worry about the task at hand of what you have to do to win that race.”

Tom Jensen is the Senior NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,” and has appeared on television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the President of the National Motorsports Press Association. Jensen is the 1997 National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year and has won numerous national and state awards for news reporting, columns and feature writing. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to

View All Comments