A HOUSE RESOLUTION congratulating Tony Stewart
on winning the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
Whereas, Throughout his career Tony Stewart has proven
that he is truly a champion;
Whereas, Tony Stewart has once again snagged the golden
ring, after overcoming several setbacks;
Whereas, Tony Stewart finished first in the Ford 400 at
Homestead Miami Speedway to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Championship in a tiebreaker over race runner-up Carl
Edwards;
Whereas, The bonus points Tony received for winning his
44th career race allowed him to make up the three point lead
held by Carl Edwards;
Whereas, Tied with Edwards at the end of NASCAR's
Chase for the Sprint Cup, Tony Stewart claimed the title with
five victories this season to Carl Edward's one;
Whereas, Born in Columbus, Indiana, Tony Stewart grew
up dreaming of racing in the Indianapolis 500;
Whereas, Tony Stewart accomplished this dream and
established himself as one of the great names in racing;
Whereas, Tony Stewart began his career at age seven,
racing go karts while his father, Nelson, acted as his car owner
and crew chief;
Whereas, At eight years, old Tony Stewart won his first
championship, a four cycle rookie junior class championship at
the Columbus Fairgrounds;
Whereas, Tony Stewart went on to win the International
Karting Federation Grand National championship and the
World Karting Association National championship;
Whereas, In 1989, Tony Stewart moved from racing
go karts to racing higher horsepower, open wheel machines;
Whereas, Tony Stewart was the United States Auto Club
(USAC) Rookie of the Year in 1991, was fifth in the 1993 USAC
standings after winning the Hut Hundred, and was the National
Midget series champion in 1994;
Whereas, In 1995, Tony Stewart set the racing world on
fire by winning the National Midget, Sprint, and Silver Crown
titles all in the same year, which was a feat never before
accomplished, and earned him a ride in the newly developed
Indy Racing League and Rookie of the Year honors in 1996;
Whereas, Tony Stewart won an Indy Racing League championship in 1997 and gained success in his NASCAR career by competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the
Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, driving more than 1,090 miles
that day;
Whereas, Tony Stewart began the 1999 NASCAR season on
a high note as he qualified in second place for the Daytona 500,
his first Nextel Cup race before winning three races and being
named NASCAR's Rookie of the Year;
Whereas, In 2002, Tony Stewart won the first of his
NASCAR championships, repeating in 2005 with his second
Nextel Cup title;
Whereas, Tony Stewart continues to amaze and astound
racing fans everywhere; and
Whereas, A champion in sprint cars, Indy cars, and stock
cars, Tony Stewart is an exceptional athlete who gives back to
his community in many ways: Therefore,
HR 1519/DI 84