Tony Stewart Chat Transcirpt
February 15, 2001
3:44 PM EST (2044 GMT)
Welcome to NASCAR.com's Tony Stewart chat!
Tony_Stewart Thanks to everyone for coming to my chat today. I am looking forward to answering your questions.
What advice do you have for the guys entering their 1st or 2nd year in Cup?
Tony_Stewart: Find some people that you trust because you are going to need a lot of help adjusting to issues that you would take for granted.
Question from: Tony, do you like regular ravioli or overstuffed?
Tony_Stewart: Overstuffed! I actually met the guy that created the overstuffed.
Question from: < Hooiser_Racer> Hey Tony, do you spend your off season in Indiana?
Tony_Stewart: Yes, I try to as much as possible. That is really the only time I get to spend time with my family and friends at home.
Question from: TONY, WITH NASCAR GROWING THE WAY IT IS, HOW MUCH ROOM IS LEFT AND DO YOU SEE SOME CUTS ON THE SCHEDULE?
Tony_Stewart: I don't see any cuts in the schedule, and I don't think anyone knows where the growth will stop with NASCAR. If you look at the other series and the growth they have, it just keeps going, especially with the new TV package. We are also going to new markets this year so this going to start a whole new line of growth and I don't know where it is going to end.
Question from: What do you think about the situation with FOX not showing the sponsors on their graphics?
Tony_Stewart: I think it was absolutely terrible. A lot of the companies use their whole budget to sponsor a Winston Cup car and to not have their logos on TV because they didn't pay FOX was terrible. You would think FOX would have enough clout to sell their own sponsorships. It wasn't fair to the teams. In all honestly, FOX should be ashamed of themselves.
Question from: What is the most rewarding aspect of working with your charities?
Tony_Stewart: Just knowing that you are making a difference. The racing communities are great, and I like giving back in a positive way in a positive form to the community through our charities.
Question from: How do you feel the addition of Dodge will affect the sport?
Tony_Stewart: I think it is positive but I don't know if it is going to affect it at all. It is just another make that we have to worry about in terms of the body style, chassis, and engine. It is good for the fans to have another model to root for though.
If you could be a superhero, who would you be?
Tony_Stewart Batman because he had all the cool gadgets! He had all the cool cars, boats and cycles.
How would you design your perfect Winston Cup track?
Tony_Stewart: It would be probably 3/4 mile with slight banking... similar to Richmond without the D-shape... it would be more of a traditional oval... or maybe even an indoors track...
Question from: How does the new areo package compare to last year's car?
Tony_Stewart: I think it made the balance a little bit freer but we have been able to work around it. The drivers can now drive the cars instead of just following the leaders all the time.
Question from: How is Joe Gibbs to drive for? and how is it to be a teammate of a Champion?
Tony Stewart: it is great. Joe is the easiest car owner to drive for. He cares about you both as a person and as a race car driver. Bobby is great. I feel like I am in the perfect situation for a race car driver.
Question from: Tony, what would you be doing if you weren't a race car driver?
Tony_Stewart: If I had to quit driving, I would be a car owner. I am a car owner in the World of Outlaws, but I would be more involved as a car owner.
Are you going to try and run the Indy 500 this year?
Tony_Stewart: Not this year. We will down the road sometime, I just don't know what year it is going to be yet.
Question from: What do you like to do for hobbies in your spare time?
Tony_Stewart: I like to go fishing. I like to ride four-wheelers, hang out with my buddies, and use the computer. I also love to ride sea-doos.
Question from: Tony, how would you feel about one common body style for all makes? Would the sport loose the manufacturing rivalry?
Tony_Stewart: You would definitely see it lose the rivalries. I think that everybody that runs should have the same drag numbers. You are going to get different numbers with the different styles, but NASCAR does a good job of keeping them close.
Your teammate won the Championship. This is your 3rd year in Cup. How confident are you for another successful season?
Tony_Stewart: I feel like we are both going to have a good year. Hopefully one of us will win the Championship this year. I am sure other teams feel the same way but we are optimistic that we can win it, one of us, again this year.
Question from: What do you think of Jason leaving JGR?
Tony_Stewart: I think it was a mistake but I still support him 100%. He needs to do what is best for him, but one more year in Busch would have helped. Hopefully I will be proven wrong.
Question from: What's the scariest moment you've had as a driver?
Tony_Stewart: Crashing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when I broke like 4 bones in my body.
Question from: I know the job can be physically draining during a race, but how do you handle the mental aspect of it while on the track?
Tony_Stewart: You just have to be conditioned for it. You know it is going to be a long day but the crew helps you keep focused. They help you keep the right mindset.
Question from: What do you feel that drivers could do to further promote this sport that we have grown to enjoy so much?
Tony_Stewart: I have no idea to be honest. Keep doing what we are doing now. Drivers don't do drugs, don't beat their wives or get DUIs, so we need to keep being good role models.
Are you going to need to eat more Chef Boyardee to dethrone Bobby this year?
Tony_Stewart: HAHAHA ... we are going to have to do a lot more than that! We need to run more consistent this year and have less DNFs. We just need to try and model Bobby's year from last year.
Thanks for joining us today for our chat with Tony Stewart!
Our schedule is really busy tonight. This is the only night I am not racing, so I wish I could stay longer. We will do this again some time. Good night!
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