Tony Stewart leads Fiesta Bowl Parade as grand marshal
Tony Stewart led the field through the streets of Scottsdale, Ariz., on Sunday, but he wasn’t doing any racing. Instead, the two-time Cup champion was fulfilling one of his duties as grand marshal of the Fiesta Bowl.
Stewart sat on the trunk of a Corvette convertible during the 1.9-mile route of the Fiesta Bowl Parade. The Fiesta Bowl is to be played Monday night between Ohio State and Texas.
“That was like driver introductions at Indianapolis times 10,” said Stewart, referring to the ritual of riding in the back of a pickup truck around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “This is a huge event and I’m just honored to be a part of it. It’s pretty cool to sort of venture outside our box a little bit and take in a game of this magnitude.
“With the racing season being what it is, getting away to see a college football game is kind of tough. When the Fiesta Bowl Committee called and asked if I was interested in being their grand marshal, I said, ‘As long as I get a ticket and a field pass to the game, I’m in.’”
Accompanying Stewart during the parade were two No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet show cars, one with Office Depot sponsorship and the other with Old Spice backing.
The upcoming Sprint Cup Series season will be Stewart’s first as a co-owner.
“Being grand marshal was also a great opportunity for our race team,” Stewart said.. “It’s not everyday that we’re able to cross over into other sporting events, so to be able to do that and bring my team and sponsors a little extra exposure was a no-brainer. Plus, we’re going to be back out here in April at Phoenix International Raceway, and hopefully the time we spend here in January brings a few more people out to the race track in April.”
