Tony Stewart

In 2011, Tony Stewart won a third Sprint Cup championship, his first since becoming co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2008. Stewart’s title capped what NASCAR Chairman Brian France believes was the best, most exciting season in NASCAR history. “Not even our office in Los Angeles could have scripted a better ending,” he said. Stewart’s five-win Chase run and head-to-head battle with Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards generated a buzz NASCAR had not enjoyed in several years.

Stewart’s previous Sprint Cup titles came in 2002 and 2005 when he was driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. With 44 Cup victories in 13 years on the series, Stewart is a favorite to repeat in 2012.

Known as a hard-nosed racer with extraordinary innate ability, Stewart has won championships in 12 different series since he first started racing go-karts in 1978 and is the only driver to ever claim titles in stock cars, Indy cars and open-wheel Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown Cars.

As an owner, Stewart has helped build Stewart-Haas Racing into a formidable two-car Chevrolet operation, and in 2012 will field a Nationwide car with Danica Patrick at the wheel. Stewart’s ownership exploits extend deep into the USAC ranks where his Tony Stewart Racing teams have won six Knoxville Nationals championships in the World of Outlaws series and a 2006 Sprint Car title with up-and-coming NASCAR driver Josh Wise. He also owns Eldora (IN) Speedway, the legendary half-mile dirt oval where he cut his teeth in the USAC ranks.

In addition to being an owner-driver, Stewart is one of NASCAR’s most generous philanthropists, helping to generate millions of dollars for various causes. He was named the NASCAR Illustrated Person of the Year in 2008.