Why comparisons to Dale Earnhardt make Tony Stewart smile

By Jeff Owens

Monday, February 19, 2007

Article Rating: 4.7
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Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Tony Stewart was hanging out in the motorhome lot at Daytona seven years ago when suddenly he felt the iron grip of Dale Earnhardt digging into his neck muscles.

Not one to buckle under pressure, Stewart came fighting back, taking off after the legendary driver.

He was chasing Earnhardt, one of his heroes, when Earnhardt's cowboy boots hit a patch of grass and his feet flew out from under him.

"He busted his ass," Stewart recalls with a laugh. "He went around the corner in the grass running around the back of his bus because I was chasing him and his feet went out from under him. And we just sat there and laughed about it."

That was Earnhardt. Away from the hustle and bustle of the garage, away from the glare of the spotlight, he knew how to lose the tough-guy persona and have fun.

That is also Tony Stewart, a fun-loving guy who loves to pull a prank or share a joke or charm a crowd with a delightful tale when he's away from the pressures of racing.

Stewart spent much of Media Day at Daytona Feb. 8 charming one group after another, reminding everyone that there is a lighter side to NASCAR's most fierce competitor.

That is one of many ways in which Stewart and the late Earnhardt are similar. In fact, Stewart is the only driver today who is even close to matching the mystique of the seven-time champion.

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Stewart is a hard-driving, tough-as-nails racer who will do almost anything to win, including using his bumper. Like Earnhardt.

And when he's not in the mood to be bothered, Stewart can be as ornery as any athlete, as could Earnhardt.

But, at other times, he can charm a pack of reporters or a horde of fans. Just like Earnhardt.

In public, Stewart is no puppet or pretty boy. He speaks his mind and does his own thing, looking as comfortable with his five o'clock shadow as Earnhardt did in his bushy mustache and dark shades.

But behind the scenes, Stewart just wants to relax and have fun, to be one of the boys, hanging out with the crowd and having a good time.

It is because of all those traits that many fans today compare him to Earnhardt, a comparison that makes him smile.

"It is a huge compliment, especially for race fans to say that," Stewart says. "I don't try to be Dale, but I respected him very, very much."

When Stewart burst onto the NASCAR scene in 1999, Earnhardt immediately became one of his mentors. Stewart spent much of his rookie season parked next to Earnhardt in the garage, soaking up the aura of the man in black.

But it was not Earnhardt's intimidating presence on the race track that fascinated Stewart most. It was Earnhardt the man, the real man, the one most people never saw.

"It was like the commercials where they talk about hitting a hole-in-one with witnesses and all that. That's what the last half of my rookie season was like, being able to be around him and spend time with him," Stewart says.

"It wasn't so much driving stuff, it was just more about learning about him as a person. You got the impression that he was such a ruthless, tough guy, but he was a lot of fun. I had so much fun hanging out with him. And that's kind of my personality. I like to have fun and goof around, and that's what he and I did together, just goof around a lot."

The longer Stewart races, the more the parallels between he and Earnhardt become apparent.

Earnhardt won his second Cup championship in 1986 at age 35 and his third at age 36. Stewart, 35, already has two titles and will be in contention for a third this season. Like Earnhardt, Stewart has won every big NASCAR event there is - almost. He is still chasing the Daytona 500 trophy, just as Earnhardt did most of his career. It took Earnhardt 20 years before finally winning the 500 in 1998. Stewart has only raced in it eight times, but there is nothing he wants more.

"I will be willing to absolutely destroy my car to win the 500 if that's what it takes on the last laps," he says. "I don't care if I slide upside-down across the finish line as long as I'm leading it."

Would he take another driver, another car with him if it meant winning the 500?

"So be it, man. That's how bad you want to win," he says.

Yet another way in which he is so much like Earnhardt. NS

Average Rating: 4.7

Comments

18 responses to "Why comparisons to Dale Earnhardt make Tony Stewart smile"
  1. 1
    scott raymond said:
    Feb 20, 2008 at 4:30 PM

    as a stewart fan i really enjoyed the comparison to dale, i hope it doesnt take tony 20yrs to win the 500.

    Report as Abuse
  2. 2
    Nina Leshley said:
    Feb 24, 2008 at 10:41 AM

    A funny story that I enjoyed!!! the fun side of the drivers when they are allowed to be themselves. I am a Tony Stewart fan

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    Nina Leshley said:
    Feb 24, 2008 at 10:42 AM

    Tony Stewart is the best all round driver since A.J.Foyt. Ken Schrader is an awesome driver,underappreciated by all

    Report as Abuse
  4. 4
    said:
    Feb 24, 2008 at 12:58 PM

    I started watching Nascar because of Dale Sr. I grew up in the mid West and went to the dirt tracks and he raced like they did,hard and anything to win. Then I noticed this rookie, Tony Stewart, and saw some on the same things in his style of racing. So now on the back of my pick-up are two numbers,3 and 20. A radio person here in Missouri said it didn't matter if Tony was racing a Yugo he'd get the most out of it. Good luck Smoke!

    Report as Abuse
  5. 5
    Marti Heath said:
    Feb 25, 2008 at 10:01 PM

    Great article! I became a Tony fan after we lost Dale because I saw the same traits in Tony that I'd seen in Dale thru the years. I enjoyed seeing Tony get out of a car and be so mad about it that he didn't want to talk to the media. Second was first loser to Dale and Tony thinks the same way. A personality we definitely need in NASCAR.

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    nora gress said:
    Feb 26, 2008 at 7:21 AM

    Great story, thanks

    Report as Abuse
  7. 7
    Scott Baker said:
    Mar 5, 2008 at 11:18 AM

    Stewart is a loser. Can't compare him to Earnhardt. Not even close. I've never seen a grown man whine and cry so much. The 3 just let his driving to the talking. Not with Stewart.

    Report as Abuse
  8. 8
    scott raymond said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:14 PM

    as a stewart fan i really enjoyed the comparison to dale, i hope it doesnt take tony 20yrs to win the 500.

    Report as Abuse
  9. 9
    Nina Leshley said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:14 PM

    A funny story that I enjoyed!!! the fun side of the drivers when they are allowed to be themselves. I am a Tony Stewart fan

    Report as Abuse
  10. 10
    Nina Leshley said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:14 PM

    Tony Stewart is the best all round driver since A.J.Foyt. Ken Schrader is an awesome driver,underappreciated by all

    Report as Abuse
  11. 11
    said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:14 PM

    I started watching Nascar because of Dale Sr. I grew up in the mid West and went to the dirt tracks and he raced like they did,hard and anything to win. Then I noticed this rookie, Tony Stewart, and saw some on the same things in his style of racing. So now on the back of my pick-up are two numbers,3 and 20. A radio person here in Missouri said it didn't matter if Tony was racing a Yugo he'd get the most out of it. Good luck Smoke!

    Report as Abuse
  12. 12
    Marti Heath said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:14 PM

    Great article! I became a Tony fan after we lost Dale because I saw the same traits in Tony that I'd seen in Dale thru the years. I enjoyed seeing Tony get out of a car and be so mad about it that he didn't want to talk to the media. Second was first loser to Dale and Tony thinks the same way. A personality we definitely need in NASCAR.

    Report as Abuse
  13. 13
    nora gress said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:14 PM

    Great story, thanks

    Report as Abuse
  14. 14
    Scott Baker said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:14 PM

    Stewart is a loser. Can't compare him to Earnhardt. Not even close. I've never seen a grown man whine and cry so much. The 3 just let his driving to the talking. Not with Stewart.

    Report as Abuse
  15. 15
    Dave Exner said:
    Mar 20, 2008 at 1:35 PM

    Dale Earnhardt was Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart is Tony Stewart and if he can just be a little smarter before he takes off with his comments when he is ticked off, then he will be the right comparison to Dale Earnhardt. He has the potential to be the best.

    Report as Abuse
  16. 16
    Tim Edick said:
    Apr 1, 2008 at 3:39 PM

    I see some comparisons but not to Dale. More to a school yard bully. Dale would often wreck someone to win, but he never whined when someone did the same to him. Can't say that for Tony. He wrecks whomever he chooses but low be the boy who touches him. He never excepts blame for his dumb moves but is quick to throw it. Compare to Dale, I think not.

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  17. 17
    nancy steves said:
    Jun 20, 2008 at 6:55 PM

    dale earnhart would never be leading the last lap of the 50th daytona 500 .and pulled down to the bottom of the track and give the race away to another driver. to this day i still can not beleive smoke made such a dumb move nancy

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  18. 18
    bud balch said:
    Jul 3, 2008 at 10:12 PM

    why cant tony just be tony and dale sr be dale sr i have never understood why people need to be like another person be your self

    Report as Abuse

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