Ever since Tony Stewart announced he would retire at the end of the 2016 season, he’s made it clear that he doesn’t want to have weekly tributes in his honor and that he’d prefer a much more subdued farewell than the one Jeff Gordon received last year.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway to build Tony Stewart a dirt track
Tony Stewart is getting a special retirement gift courtesy of his home track.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
While Gordon was bestowed with an array of gifts on a near-weekly basis -- including bottles of bourbon, tracks named after him and even a pair of Shetland ponies -- Stewart’s retirement has been lacking the same level of lavishness, as he preferred.
But Stewart’s home track, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is ignoring his wishes. In fact, it’s come up with a gesture the three-time Cup Series champion will find difficult to resist. According to the Indy Star, IMS is planning on building a dirt oval inside its hallowed grounds specifically for Stewart, who is an unabashed supporter of dirt sprint car racing.
The proposed 3/16th-mile oval will be built inside Turn 3 with the idea that Stewart will participate in an exhibition midget race on the track. If all goes well, the dirt track will be expanded to host sprint cars.
Stewart was informed of the idea last week, according to the report, and it will be officially unveiled when he appears July 5 at IMS next week to promote the July 24 NASCAR Brickyard 400 at the venerable track.
“Tony doesn’t want gifts, per se, but we thought this was a great way to marry his love for dirt-track racing with his love for racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” IMS president Doug Boles told the Indy Star.
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