NASCAR Legend Heading To Parramatta City Raceway

Sydney, December 14, 2009: One of the biggest names in the world of motorsport, Tony Stewart, will be heading ‘Down Under’ to compete at Sydney’s Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway later this month.

Stewart, a champion in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup (2002, 2005) and IndyCar Series Champion (1997), will join four-time World of Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz and All Star Series Champion Tim Shaffer in an American invasion of Sydney’s famous Speedway venue over the Christmas/New Year period.

Not since Stewart’s hero A.J. Foyt raced at the Liverpool City Raceway during 1975 and 1976 has Australia played host to a modern day super hero of the American ovals during the peak of their career.

The 38 year-old has won in the top level of NASCAR on 37 occasions, including four times during the 2009 season taking his career earnings to in excess of $80 million. Stewart has been a standout performer on the oval track for the past 20 years taking out numerous championships along the way including a trifecta of USAC Championships (Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown) during 1995.

Stewart previously visited Australian shores during the formative years of his career where he competed at the Parramatta venue in a limited campaign. The NASCAR star’s visit this summer will see him campaign a car fielded by Australian Speedway Legend Garry Rush alongside Schatz in four of the biggest events on the Australian speedway calendar.

Rush, one of the Directors of Sydney Speedway Pty Ltd, the promoters of Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway, is delighted to have Stewart and his American counterparts competing at the venue.

“After starting his own NASCAR team at the beginning of the year Tony has had a very long year and his main focus is to come to Australia to unwind while enjoying some time away from the pressure of racing at the top level,” said Rush.

“However, he is a true racer at heart and has jumped at the opportunity we have provided him to race at Tyrepower Parramatta Raceway while combining it with some holiday activities both around Sydney and other parts of Australia.”

The American trio will take to the Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway for the first time on Saturday December 26 for the Valvoline Australian Sprintcar Grand Prix before backing up a few days later (December 29) for the Hogs Breath Sprintcar International. The December 29 event will also feature a Demolition Derby.

On the first weekend in the New Year (January 2 & 3) Stewart, Schatz and Shaffer will be joined by fellow American Jason Johnson and Australia’s best including Brooke Tatnell, Max Dumesny, Robbie Farr, Ryan Farrell and Kerry Madsen to battle for the $50,000 to win Scott Darley race presented by Coca Cola.