Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Stewart wraps up Sprintcar stint Down Under

A blown tire in Tuesday night's Scott Darley $50,000 to win challenge couldn't deflate Tony Stewart's enthusiasm for racing at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway during the holidays.

"The highlight for me has been being here at Parramatta. Being at the racetrack is what I enjoy," Stewart said after finishing 19th.

Stewart, a two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, wrapped up a four-race Sprintcar stint at the Parramatta track in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday. Four-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz, who competes for Stewart in World of Outlaws, won the 40-lap memorial race. Schatz's victory marked the eighth time in 10 years that he has claimed the $50,000 prize.

Stewart was the fastest qualifier during the opening night of the Scott Darley race on Monday, starting in the outside of the front row at Tuesday's main event. Stewart was running in the top four for the first half of the race before his right rear tire deflated, sending him to the pits and a 19th-place finish.

Despite not finishing Tuesday's race, Stewart said he enjoyed his time in Australia, on and off the track.

"Away from the racetrack New Year's Eve, seeing the Harbour Bridge and the fireworks was very cool and definitely the highlight," Stewart said.

"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 Sprintcar. I've had a great time and I'm already trying to work on coming back next year."

Stewart finished seventh in the Valvoline Australian Grand Prix on Dec. 27 and fourth at the Hogs Breath Café International on Dec. 29. He piloted the No. 14 Old Spice Sprintcar for Garry Rush Motorsport in all four races.

(Photo: Tony Stewart at Tyre Parramatta City Raceway. From
crgphotography on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/crgphotography/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Related stories:
Pair of Sprintcar races featuring Tony Stewart postponed
Stewart finishes 4th at Hogs Breath Café International Sprintcar Race
Stewart finishes 7th in Aussie race
Stewart to run series of Sprintcar races in Australia

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