TALLADEGA, AL - MAY 01: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 1, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Today is Tony Stewart's 45th birthday and tomorrow night is his final NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race as a driver.
So to show its appreciation for the three-time champion, Charlotte Motor Speedway is pulling out all the stops to recognize Stewart and what he's meant to the sport over the years.
Stewart's crowning All-Star moment came in 2009, when he won the event. It was the very first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory for Stewart-Haas Racing and for Stewart's partner, Gene Haas, who had launched his first Cup team in 2002.
"Probably the best part was the fact that it was the first chance that Gene had gotten to come and watch the team run. For him to come to the track and the first night out go to victory lane, that was a pretty cool welcome back party for him," said Stewart.
"That made it a huge night for the organization to be able to have everybody there and not feel like somebody got left out," said Stewart. "Everybody was present for it. Guys who don't get a chance to come to the track get to come to the track that weekend. So, it was cool to get guys in victory lane for the first time."
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