---

NASCAR WCUP: Tony Stewart feels at home under the lights

9 September 1999

With only 10 races left in his rookie season, Home Depot driver Tony Stewart returns to race under the lights at Richmond International Raceway following his 12th place finish at Darlington. At Richmond earlier this year, Stewart qualified 30th and finished a solid 15th.

Tony Stewart, Driver -- (Fifth in standings with 3,323 points)

On Racing at Richmond:

"With this being a night race, we have less time both before and after qualifying to work on our Home Depot car. I know it sounds like a broken record, but we want to stay focused on qualifying first round, running well and scoring a solid finish. Richmond is tougher than it looks. I like the track, but I've never had the best of luck there. We need to qualify better than we did in the spring. When you start in the back of the field, it's hard to play catch up."

On Rookie Season:

"I've had more fun this year than in the past four years combined! This year has been great because as a rookie team, we haven't been expected to win. I was expected to win in the IRL. This year it's been "go out and learn." Both Joe Gibbs and Home Depot told me - you're going to learn and we expect you to make mistakes."

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.