When we talk about great athletes who eventually become great coaches, successful executives
or team owners, Tony Stewart is the first name that pops in our mind.
The former stock car racing driving champion and current NASCAR team owner, Tony Stewart
is a legend in the American racing circuit.
Hall of Famer and the three-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series winner earned his nickname
‘Smoke’ for often blowing his engines during his championship runs.
The only driver in history to win a championship in both IndyCar and NASCAR, Tony took an official
retirement in 2016.
So, on what is he investing his energy these days?
Keep watching until the end to know everything, including his post-retirement work and personal
life.
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#. Retired but Still a Racer at Heart After the 2016 circuit, Stewart retired from
professional racing to focus on his co-ownership of team Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) with industrialist
Gene Haas.
The SHR team is in the title race for the 2018 NASCAR championship.
Even though he retired from the professional scene, he is often seen putting the pedal
to the metal in his private racetrack whenever he gets the urge.
#. Still Chasing that Elusive Indy 500 Win The Indiana native also became the Indy Racing
League Champion, but he was never able to win the Indy 500 at the famous Indianapolis
Motor Speedway.
The 47-year-old is gearing up to change that and chasing that elusive title again next
year.
He last entered the event in 2001.
#. High Profile Personal Life Tony has had a number of girlfriends in the
past, including World of Outlaws race car driver, Jessica Zemken and Tara Roquemore.
He started dating a Georgia native, Tara Roquemore, in 2006.
Roquemore formerly worked as a Marketing Assistant for Home Depot, the primary sponsor for Tony.
They had an on-again and off-again relationship until he reportedly started dating former
DIRT modified race driver, Ray Zemken’s only daughter, Jessica Zemken in 2008.
There’s no clear detail about his break up with Jessica, but rumors have it that they
went their separate ways around 2011.
He is currently engaged to the gorgeous actress, Penelope Jimenez.
He took to Twitter to share the news of his engagement with a ring-studded finger of his
fiancee on Thanksgiving Day 2017 and wrote in a caption, “She said YES!”
He had long joked that he would never get married, but that was until he met the right
woman.
He and Penelope have been together since 2016.
We wish the best life ahead for the couple.
#. Tragedy on the Race Track and Legal Issues In August of 2014, Stewart’s car lethally
struck another race car driver Kevin Ward Jr. who got out of his car after he hit a
wall during a sprint car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York.
The 20 year old racer later died in the hospital.
Following the accident, Stewart released a statement
"There aren't words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life
of Kevin Ward Jr.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
A series of legal and civil lawsuits were brought against him, however, he was not indicted
for the charge and the lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount earlier this year.
Kevin’s mother said she had no choice but to settle with Stewart.
#. Active on Popular Media and Social Media Over the years, he has hosted a radio show
with Sirius Satellite Radio, worked as a TV analyst and appeared in numerous ads.
He was on the cover of Electronic Arts video game NASCAR 2001 and NASCAR 2011: The Game.
He is very active on social media and his tTwitter banner reads “Always a Racer, Forever
a Champion”.
#. Racing Bug Bit Him Early He fell in love with the wheel of a go-kart
at the early age of 7, which was encouraged by his father Nelson.
He got his first competitive go-karts in Westport, Indiana in 1979.
Success on the race track came early for him when he won the World Karting Association
championship in 1987.
Tony gives all the credit for his success to his father.
He says, “He never pressured me to be the best race
car driver in the world, but he did pressure me to be the best race car driver that I could
be.”
#. Records and Milestones/Elite NASCAR Driver He is ranked thirteenth among the all-time
NASCAR Cup Series Winners, and ninth among those who have competed during the sport's
modern era, that is since 1972.
Tony names Chicagoland Speedway & Watkins Glen International as his favorite tracks,
where has won 3 and 5 races respectively.
Spending most of his life burning tires on the race track, Tony has collected an estimated
net worth of $70 million.
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