TONY STEWART UPDATE

November 19, 2002

Tony Stewart would prefer to be the most reclusive NASCAR Winston Cup champion of the modern era. Of course, that won't happen, especially in two weeks when the Columbus, Ind., native is paraded through New York like a Broadway star.

NASCAR officials said Monday Stewart will be put through the usual rigors of Champions Week, a Big Apple-sized media blitz of television talk shows, radio segments and newspaper interviews leading up to the Dec. 6 awards ceremony.

 The claustrophobic and sometimes combustible Stewart would certainly prefer a lighter schedule, but he wasn't complaining after winning his first Winston Cup title Sunday in Homestead, Fla.

(you'll have to check out the rest of Cavin's column at: www.indystar.com  but here's the paragraph that we thought was important enough to steal:)

… Stewart said he's got much of the rest of the off-season booked as well. He'll complete Chevy's test today and drive in the annual Turkey Night Grand Prix midget race Nov. 28 at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. After the banquet he's taking employees of his family-owned business on a cruise Dec. 9-13.

The 2003 Daytona 500 is Feb. 16, just 12 weeks away.

"There is not going to be a lot of time to reflect (on winning the title)," Stewart said after Sunday's race.