After setting fast time in qualifying and running as high as third at the sprint car finale at Sydney’s Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway, Tony Stewart finished 19th due to a deflated right rear tire.
As consolation his World of Outlaws driver, Donny Schatz, won the event.
Stewart was a multi-time champion in open wheel racing divisions in the United States before joining NASCAR with Joe Gibbs Racing. Despite the long, tough, Sprint Cup season, and the pressures of his debut as co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, being at a short track was a vacation for the two time Cup champ.
“The highlight for me has been being here at Parramatta. Being at the racetrack is what I enjoy, I’ve been looking coming here for a few months. Away from the racetrack New Years Eve, seeing the Harbor Bridge and the (New Year’s) fireworks was very cool and definitely the highlight,” said Stewart.
“We got better every night, so that was the biggest thing for me. It was nice to actually run the same track four nights in a row versus a race here and race there in a sprint car.
“I’ve had a great time and I’m already trying to work on coming back next year.
“I was terrible the first night I was here, I was all over the place, the second night was a little better but not much. The last two nights, we got going. Tonight I got going, I don’t think I had enough to beat Donny but I think we had a shot to make it a one-two for (car owner) Garry (Rush).
“I got more confident as the week went on and we worked on what I liked in the car compared to the way Donny likes it. I think we really started to hit on with what I like and hopefully we’ll bring that knowledge back next year.”
photo:www.tonystewart.com
As consolation his World of Outlaws driver, Donny Schatz, won the event.
Stewart was a multi-time champion in open wheel racing divisions in the United States before joining NASCAR with Joe Gibbs Racing. Despite the long, tough, Sprint Cup season, and the pressures of his debut as co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, being at a short track was a vacation for the two time Cup champ.
“The highlight for me has been being here at Parramatta. Being at the racetrack is what I enjoy, I’ve been looking coming here for a few months. Away from the racetrack New Years Eve, seeing the Harbor Bridge and the (New Year’s) fireworks was very cool and definitely the highlight,” said Stewart.
“We got better every night, so that was the biggest thing for me. It was nice to actually run the same track four nights in a row versus a race here and race there in a sprint car.
“I’ve had a great time and I’m already trying to work on coming back next year.
“I was terrible the first night I was here, I was all over the place, the second night was a little better but not much. The last two nights, we got going. Tonight I got going, I don’t think I had enough to beat Donny but I think we had a shot to make it a one-two for (car owner) Garry (Rush).
“I got more confident as the week went on and we worked on what I liked in the car compared to the way Donny likes it. I think we really started to hit on with what I like and hopefully we’ll bring that knowledge back next year.”
photo:www.tonystewart.com