Smoke Scores Top-Ten With All Stars At Eriez Speedway; Set To Follow Tour For A Bit
Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Tony Stewart’s weekend in Western Pennsylvania was productive, scoring one top-ten finish in the process, as well as conducting an impressive rebound on Saturday during action at “Dirt’s Monster Half-Mile.”
Stewart, driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Rush Truck Centers/Textron Off Road/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/No. 14 sprint car, earned his top-five finish during I-79 Summer Shootout action at Eriez Speedway on Friday, July 20. Smoke started 13th on the feature grid, eventually climbing four spots in 30 circuits to earn his 27th top-ten finish of the season. A fifth place finish during heat race action secured his seventh row starting position.
A heartbreak, nonetheless, Stewart was well on his way to a second consecutive I-79 Summer Shootout top-ten finish on Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway when issues occurred, the result of a flat right-rear tire while battling inside the top-five. Stewart’s crew was able to make the tire change which allowed the Columbus, Ind., native to return to the speedway. Although not recovering for a top-ten, Stewart did recover for a respectable 12th place finish.
“I think we were really good at Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, things like that happen. I have a great group of guys who were able to get me back out on the speedway in a hurry,” Tony Stewart said, who won an All Star event at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in 2017. “We have a lot of racing coming up during the next several weeks. It all starts this weekend with a busy stretch of All Star Circuit of Champions action. I’m looking forward to joining our very competitive Series during four starts across the Midwest.”
Tony Stewart will continue his 2018 open wheel schedule with a four-pack of All Star Circuit of Champions starts across much of the Midwest, first visiting Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis., on Thursday, July 26. The All Stars were scheduled to visit Angell Park earlier this season, but Mother Nature intervened forcing the event to be postponed.
Stewart’s upcoming All Star agenda will send the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion to Jackson (Minn.) Motorplex on Friday, July 27, followed by an Iowa doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday, July 28 & 29; Knoxville Raceway on Saturday and 34 Raceway in Burlington on Sunday.
Fans should take note that Tony Stewart’s apparel trailer will be traveling to all four All Star Circuit of Champions events, as well.
