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NASCAR WCUP: Stewart ready for first shot at Phoenix in Winston Cup car

4 November 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500
Phoenix International Raceway - 1-mile oval
Race 32 of 34 - NASCAR Winston Cup Series
November 5-7, 1999
Race time: Sunday, November 7, 1999, 2:00 p.m. EST
Live television coverage: TNN, Live radio coverage: MRN

After a weekend off, Home Depot driver Tony Stewart heads west for his first Winston Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway, the circuit's fastest one-mile oval. Though Stewart has never run his #20 Home Depot Pontiac at Phoenix, he has raced in both IRL and USAC cars at the track. In 1998 Stewart won two of the three Copperworld Classic open wheel races held each year. He posted wins in the USAC Silver Crown and USAC Midgets and finished second in his first-ever race in the Western States Super Modifieds .

Stewart will make a special appearance on Friday, Nov. 5, at The Home Depot store in Gilbert, AZ, at 745 South Val Vista Drive. Stewart will sign autographs for fans from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. In conjunction with Stewart's appearance, the store will have a "Kids WorkshopSM" where children can build their own #20 Home Depot wooden race car.

With three races left in his rookie season, Stewart has completed more than 97 percent of total laps to date and has led 14 different races for a total of 1,028 laps. He is currently fifth in the point standings with one win (Richmond, Sept. 12), two poles, 10 top- five, 19 top-10 and 26 top-15 finishes.

Tony Stewart, Driver -- (Fifth in standings with 4,286 points)
On Racing at Phoenix:

"Although we didn't have the opportunity to test the Home Depot Pontiac at Phoenix, Bobby (Labonte) got a test in last week and he's run several Cup races there as well. I raced at Phoenix in the IRL and USAC so I feel that between the information we get from the #18 and my knowledge of the track, we should have a good starting point.

"If the car isn't set up right, that dogleg in the middle of the backstretch can make it pretty interesting for about a split second. It's tough to pass at Phoenix as well so track position is crucial.

"We need to qualify the #20 Home Depot Pontiac well so we are up front for the start. Every point we earn now is critical. We want to maintain our position in the top five and with just three races to go, there really isn't room for error. We just need to focus on leaving Sunday with a good solid finish before heading into the last two races."

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