“Smoke: A Tribute to Tony Stewart” at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Story & Photos By: NASCAR HALL OF FAME MEDIA
CHARLOTTE, N.C. —October 13, 2016- In celebration of the end of an era as NASCAR driver Tony Stewart concludes his momentous career this season, the NASCAR Hall of Fame has launched a limited-time special exhibit, “Smoke: A Tribute to Tony Stewart.”
The exhibit is located in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Great Hall and runs from Oct. 8 to Feb. 24, 2017.
“It’s a huge honor. For so many fans that didn’t know how I got to NASCAR and how I came up through the ranks to get to this level, for them to be able to look back and see part of my history that got me here is something that I’m really proud of,” said Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
The 2016 season marks the end of Stewart’s memorable career as a NASCAR driver. During his NASCAR premier series career, he earned three championships and 13th place on the all-time wins list. But NASCAR is only part of his story. Stewart, known as “Smoke,” also achieved success in open-wheel and go-kart racing and as a team owner later in his career. This exhibit explores Stewart’s incredible achievements in motorsports from his early days of racing to present day.
Among the artifacts included in the exhibit, 10 vehicles from different eras and racing disciplines narrate Stewart’s rise to NASCAR, including:
1973 John Deere Lawn Mower
1995 USAC “Triple Crown” Championship Cars
1997 Indy Racing League Championship Car
1999 Indy Racing League “Double Duty” Car
1999 NASCAR Premier Series First-win Car
2005 Brickyard 400 and Championship Victory Car
2006 IROC Championship Car
2014 Kevin Harvick Championship Car
“Tony Stewart achieved unprecedented victories in his career in motorsports, making this exhibit equally awe-inspiring and exciting to curate,” said NASCAR Hall of Fame Director of Exhibits Kevin Schlesier. “We were eager to display some of Stewart’s most treasured cars and artifacts that illustrate his incredible achievements throughout his career.”
In addition to the cars on display, additional items incorporated in the exhibit include: two champagne bottles, one tuxedo, seven fire suits and 11 helmets, among others. The vehicles and artifacts collectively represent 28 historic milestone moments during 43 years of Stewart’s life that will give fans an insider’s look into the individual and driver known as “Smoke.”
