NASCAR WCUP: Stewart keeping it all in perspective as 2000 season approaches
13 January 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
DETROIT - Prior to the start of the 1999 NASCAR Winston
Cup season, Tony Stewart and his Home Depot Pontiac teammates had simple
goals: qualify for all the races and run as many laps as possible. To put
it mildly, they met their objectives and met them in a big way.
Not only did they qualify for all the races, but they captured two poles. And not only did they run a lot of laps, but they ran a lot of those laps faster than anybody else. The Home Depot Grand Prix led at 17 of 34 events, led the most laps five times, claimed three victories and finished fourth in the final 1999 series point standings.
On Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 17 and 18, Stewart and his mates will return to Daytona International Speedway for their first test of the year on the famed 2.5-mile high-banked tri-oval. Despite the fact that everyone around them has placed new expectations on the team, Stewart insists the Joe Gibbs-led operation will continue to focus on what got them to where they are.
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos
and art, visit
The Racing
Photo Museum and the
Visions
of Speed Art Gallery.