He has championships in USAC, Indycar, and is most known for his three titles in the Sprint Cup Series. He has won on just about every racing surface and in every automobile he has driven. In addition to being a great man off the track, Tony also happens one of the best drivers in history on it. He has given away cars to short track dirt racers who could not make the main-event, lent a plane to Justin Wilson’s family after the Pocono tragedy, created a foundation to help ill children and animals, and was even once voted USA Weekend’s “Most Caring Athlete.” Very often we hear of the stories that make Tony one of the most popular drivers in history. ![]() Tony Stewart is a humble and kind-hearted man. That autograph session in Central New York in 2003 probably is a faint memory to ‘Smoke,’ but to me that was the moment of a lifetime. The reason that myself and many other ‘Smoke’ fans continue to support him, through the triumph and tragedy, is because of his passion for racing, his legendary talent, and most of all, the personal connections he makes to each fan that he can. Tony would be missing the first part of the season because of this, and we still do not know for sure when he will be returning. News breaks on February 2nd that Tony Stewart has been hospitalized with a back injury as a result of an ATV accident in California. Anticipation mounts as the calendar turns to February and the Daytona 500 is getting ever closer. In September, he decided to announce that the 2016 season would be his last at the Sprint Cup Series level. 2015 had high hopes for Tony to make a comeback, but he ended up having the worst season of his career, managing only 3 top-tens and a 28th-place points finish. He struggled in the final races of that tumultuous 2014 season. That incident may have taken part of Tony’s driving ability away, as some people say. Sometimes I still have to when the casual fan tell me Stewart is a “murderer.” Thankfully, he was absolved of any criminal action in the incident as resumes racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway three weeks later, after taking time off to grieve. I had to defend Tony in the following days and weeks on social media, to friends at work, and everywhere. AJ Allmendinger wins the race in one of the most feel-good wins you will see, to help dismantle the strange air around the track. 14 gear despite many dirty looks and heckles (there were many fellow fans going through the same experience). Eventually it is announced that Stewart would not be racing, which was not a surprise, but was still upsetting. We get to the track, and it is still in limbo whether or not Tony is racing (mind you, the year before I missed him at WGI as well because of another dirt race incident). I sat in disbelief for the two-hour ride. Of course, we still are heading to WGI for the race. A few years later, at nine years old, I got to cheer on Tony to his second championship in the 2005 season, and saw him grow from the most villainous driver in NASCAR to one of its most celebrated. That cemented my idolization and dedication to Tony Stewart. I happily thank Tony and exit the mall with the brightest smile ever. ![]() That one singular moment is my most favorite NASCAR memory, and one of my favorite moments in my entire life. I ask him to sign my 2001 Home Depot #20 plaque and my Tony Stewart fishing lure, and he says “Of course little man,” signs them, and then gives me a hug. When I approach Tony, its not the brash and hot-headed Tony we are all accustomed to, its a kind and soft-hearted man. My formerly shy self decides to go ahead and walk up to him. My family urges me to go ask for an autograph. As we walk out of the newly opened Bass Pro and into the food court, we see Tony racing slot cars in a little slot-car shop. I was heartbroken because I was so close to meeting my favorite driver at just seven years old. Unfortunately we showed up late and the session was over. My parents brought me over to the session after they got back from work. He had an autograph session for the fans and that was the talk of the town. Tony Stewart was a part of the celebration to no surprise because of his relationship with Johnny Morris and Bass Pro. It was a warm Saturday afternoon in the summer of 2003, and the local Bass Pro Shops was having its “grand opening” celebration. ![]() ![]() Here is a personalized story of why I have always been a fan of ‘Smoke’ through thick and thin and will continue to be. By Jonathan Pilat 7 years ago Tony Stewart has always been a polarizing figure inside NASCAR and out, but its the personal connections that Stewart makes that are why he resonates with many fans across the country.
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