[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11602-H11605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING TONY STEWART ON WINNING THE 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP 
                              CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 587) congratulating Tony Stewart on winning the 
2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 587

       Whereas Tony Stewart won NASCAR's Nextel Cup Championship 
     in 2005, the 57th season of NASCAR's premier series;
       Whereas Stewart finished with an amazing 6,533 points, the 
     most for any driver in the 2005 NASCAR series;
       Whereas Stewart in the 2005 series won 3 starting pole 
     positions, had 5 wins, 17 top 5 finishes, and 25 top 10 
     finishes;
       Whereas Stewart also won the Gatorade Duel 2, the Dodge/
     Save Mart 350, the Pepsi 400, the New England 300, and the 
     Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen;
       Whereas Stewart's #20 car started in 22nd position, led the 
     most laps, and also finished first in the Allstate 400 at the 
     Brickyard, continuing Hoosier dominance at the Indianapolis 
     Motor Speedway's only NASCAR Nextel Cup race;
       Whereas Stewart is the recipient of Indiana's highest 
     honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash, which was awarded to him 
     by Governor Mitch Daniels on August 29, 2005, after Stewart 
     won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard;
       Whereas Stewart has won 2 NASCAR Nextel Cup Championships 
     in only his 7th year in the NASCAR circuit;
       Whereas Stewart has won 8 other auto racing championships 
     in his career including the Indy Racing League;
       Whereas Stewart has ranked in the top 10 every season since 
     his 1999 rookie year and has never ranked lower than 7th in 
     the final point standings; and
       Whereas Stewart, who began racing in Indiana and excelled 
     at a very young age, was born in Columbus, Indiana, and 
     continues to have close ties with the State of Indiana and 
     the City of Columbus: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     Tony Stewart for winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup 
     Championship.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 587.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 587, which 
congratulates Tony Stewart on winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup 
Championship.
  Madam Speaker, as a NASCAR fan and frequent patron of the Las Vegas 
Motor Speedway, home of many NASCAR races, I am glad to be speaking on 
this resolution this evening.
  Tony Stewart has become the 14th driver in NASCAR history with more 
than one championship, despite a 15th place finish at the Homestead-
Miami Speedway on November 20. The finish solidified his reign in the 
NASCAR points chase.

                              {time}  2030

  He finished with a 35-point lead over fellow driver Greg Biffle to 
win the Cup. This is Stewart's second title in 4 years, and he joins 
Jeff Gordon as they claim the honor of being the only active full-time 
drivers with multiple titles.
  For Stewart, it was the perfect finish to a near-perfect season as he 
consistently stayed on top of the points board for 13 of the final 14 
weeks. He was on top at the start of the 10 race chase for the 
championship and fell off the leader board just once, when he dropped 
to fifth place after round two. Stewart soon found his way back to the 
top a week later and never looked back.
  I urge all Members to come together to congratulate Tony Stewart on 
an unforgettable season by adopting H. Res. 587.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 587, congratulating Tony Stewart on 
winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship.
  Mr. Speaker, born in Columbus, Indiana, in 1971, Tony Stewart has 
been winning races since the age of 16. He grew up racing go-carts and 
won the world carting championship in 1987. He raced three-quarter 
midgets for a handful of years and then moved up to the USAC series. 
Stewart was the USAC rookie of the year in 1991 and the National Midget 
Series Champion in 1994.
  In 1995, Stewart became the first driver to win USAC's version of the 
triple crown by earning championships in all three USAC major 
divisions, National Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown. Stewart burst onto 
the Nextel Cup scene in 1999 with more experience in the big leagues of 
motor sports than most other rookies. Posting three wins in his rookie 
season, he laughed off the often-experienced sophomore slump jinx with 
six more wins in 2000.
  Throughout his stellar career, Stewart has never finished a season 
outside of the top ten in points, including his brilliant 2002 
champion-winning season. His 2005 season was magical. In addition to 
taking his second Nextel Cup title, the 34-year-old realized a lifelong 
goal by winning the Brickyard 400 as part of an amazing summer that saw 
Stewart win five races in seven weeks.
  Stewart wrapped up his second NASCAR Nextel Cup championship in 
Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the 57th season of 
NASCAR's premier series. Winning two NASCAR Nextel Cup Championships in 
only 7 years on the NASCAR circuit is quite an accomplishment. Tony 
Stewart is deserving of this resolution which recognizes and 
congratulates him for his accomplishments, and I would urge its passage 
and support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Sodrel).

[[Page H11603]]

  Mr. SODREL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of this 
resolution. I was happy to offer this resolution honoring a constituent 
of mine, Tony Stewart, for one of the greatest accomplishments in motor 
sports, winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup.
  This resolution is co-sponsored by several of my colleagues from 
Indiana, Mr. Pence, Mr. Burton, Mr. Souder, Mr. Hostettler and Ms. 
Carson. This achievement is even more amazing considering this is Mr. 
Stewart's second NASCAR Cup win in only his seventh season competing on 
the NASCAR circuit. Not only has Mr. Stewart won two NASCAR 
championships, his resume is more impressive when you consider he has 
also won eight other auto racing championships, including the Indy 
Racing League.
  This season, NASCAR fans and even the casual spectator watching 
highlights on ESPN SportsCenter all saw Mr. Stewart's number 20 Home 
Depot/Joe Gibbs racing car capture the checkered flag in an orange and 
black blur six times during the season. These victories came at the 
Gatorade Duel 2, the Dodge Save Mart 350, the Pepsi 400, the New 
England 300, the Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen and the Allstate 
400 at the Brickyard. It was at the Brickyard, Indiana's crown jewel on 
the NASCAR circuit, where Mr. Stewart started in the 22nd position and 
worked his way through the pack to lead the most laps on his way to 
victory.
  Mr. Stewart's path to his second championship started in his hometown 
of Columbus, Indiana. Just outside of Columbus is a town called 
Westport where he raced go-carts in 1978.
  Mr. Speaker, I will be submitting an article from the December 1, 
2005, edition of Sports Illustrated which eloquently highlights the 
career of Mr. Stewart.
  Sports Illustrated writer Lars Anderson writes about Mr. Stewart's 
hardworking Hoosier roots and his entry into the racing world: ``Tony 
Stewart was 22 years old and living rent-free in a friend's house in 
Rushville, Indiana, when he hit a crossroads. For months, he had been 
working in a machine shop 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, running a drill 
press for $5 an hour and wondering if he had what it took to become a 
professional racer. Then, one afternoon early in 1993, he asked his 
boss if he could borrow money for a ticket to Phoenix. The Copper World 
Classic, a USAC event for open-wheel cars at Phoenix International 
Raceway, was going to be held in a few days, and Stewart, who raced on 
the weekends in the Midwest, wanted to test his talent against West 
Coast drivers. So he asked his boss for a loan, and neither Stewart's 
life nor American motor sports have been the same since.''
  Indeed, American motor sports have never been the same since.
  Mr. Stewart won three carting championships, four USAC titles and the 
IRL crown before becoming the NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1999 and 
winning his first NASCAR Winston Cup title in 2002.
  Mr. Stewart recalls to Mr. Andrews how he entered the world of 
professional auto racing. He said, ``I got the loan and wound up 
finishing second in the race, and I made $3,500.'' ``When I got home 
from Phoenix, I looked at the paycheck and calculated how long it would 
take me to make that much in the machine shop. I said to myself, It's 
now or never, and that's when I decided to go for it.''
  Mr. Speaker, that is the American dream, going for it; taking the 
risk; taking advantage of the opportunities. Mr. Stewart's rise to the 
top is indicative of his Hoosier work ethic and pride in a job well 
done. But Mr. Stewart should also be recognized for his accomplishments 
outside of motor sports. His commitment to philanthropy led him to 
start the Tony Stewart Foundation to help terminally ill children and 
to aid the families of drivers injured in motor sports.
  For his contributions to the State of Indiana, a State rich in motor 
sports history, Mr. Stewart was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, the 
State of Indiana's highest honor. Governor Mitch Daniels presented the 
award after Mr. Stewart's number 20 car and his crew won Indiana's only 
NASCAR Nextel Cup race, the Brickyard 400.
  This race is held annually at the most storied of racetracks in the 
world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. Mr. 
Stewart is not only held in respect by his fellow Hoosiers but by his 
fellow racers as well. His colleague Mark Martin said, ``Tony Stewart, 
in my eyes, is the greatest race car driver I have watched drive in 
this era. A.J. Foyt might have been that when I was a little boy, but 
Tony Stewart is my driving hero.''
  Dale Earnhardt, Jr., said, ``Tony's as talented as they come. He's 
also one of the most genuine guys in our sport. He was one of the few 
people who stepped up for me when my dad died. He's a guy who really 
cares about his friends, and I guarantee you this won't be the last 
championship he wins.''
  Jeff Gordon, a fellow Hoosier and four-time NASCAR Cup champion said, 
``Tony is a true American racer. You can put him in any car on any 
track and he'll be fast. He's good on the short tracks, the 
intermediate tracks, the restrictor-plate tracks and the road 
courses.''
  I am proud to honor Mr. Stewart, an American driver at the top of the 
racing world, a Hoosier, and a Ninth District constituent. I ask for my 
colleagues to support this resolution to congratulate him on his 
accomplishments.

                  [From Sports Illustrated, Dec. 2005]

                              The Champion

                           (By Lars Anderson)

       Tony Stewart was 22 years old and living rent-free in a 
     friend's house in Rushville, Ind., when he hit a crossroads. 
     For months he had been working in a machine shop, eight hours 
     a day, five days a week, running a drill press for $5 an hour 
     and wondering if he had what it took to become a professional 
     racer. Then, one afternoon early in 1993, he asked his boss 
     if he could borrow money for a ticket to Phoenix. The Copper 
     World Classic, a USAC event for open-wheel cars at Phoenix 
     International Raceway, was going to be held in a few days, 
     and Stewart, who raced on weekends in the Midwest, wanted to 
     test his talent against West Coast drivers. So he asked his 
     boss for a loan, and neither Stewart's life, nor American 
     motor sports, has been the same since.
       ``I got the loan and wound up finishing second in the race, 
     and I made $3,500,'' Stewart recalled as he sat in the back 
     of an Agusta helicopter that was carrying him to Homestead-
     Miami Speedway on Nov. 17 for the start of what Stewart would 
     later call the most important racing weekend of his life. 
     ``When I got home from Phoenix, I looked at the paycheck and 
     calculated how long it would take me to make that much in the 
     machine shop. I said to myself, It's now or never. And that's 
     when I decided to go for it.''
       In NASCAR's season finale at Homestead, almost 13 years 
     after he made his decision, Stewart solidified his status as 
     one of the top drivers of his generation when he wrapped up 
     his second career Cup championship by coming in 15th in the 
     Ford 400. Stewart, who finished 35 points ahead of Greg 
     Biffle and Carl Edwards in the final standings, joined an 
     exclusive club: He became the 14th driver in NASCAR's 58-year 
     history to win multiple titles. Among current drivers, 
     Stewart is only the second to have won more than one Cup 
     championship. (Jeff Gordon, who has won four, is the other.) 
     Though Stewart didn't win any of the final 10 races of 2005, 
     his average finish of 8.7 during the Chase was second only to 
     Carl Edwards's 8.4. And during the final two thirds of the 
     season, Stewart was as consistent as any NASCAR driver in 
     recent memory: Over the final 22 races of '05 he finished in 
     the top 10 an astonishing 19 times.
       ``Tony Stewart, in my eyes, is the greatest race car driver 
     I've watched drive in this era,'' says Mark Martin. ``A.J. 
     Foyt might have been that when I was a little boy, but Tony 
     Stewart is my driving hero.''
       ``Tony is a true American racer,'' says Gordon. ``You can 
     put him in any car on any track, and he'll be fast. He's good 
     on the short tracks, the intermediate tracks, the restrictor-
     plate tracks and the road courses.''
       ``Tony's as talented as they come,'' says Dale Earnhardt 
     Jr. ``He's also one of the most genuine guys in our sport. He 
     was one of the few people who stepped up for me when my dad 
     died. He opened his home to me and offered me his car, his 
     helicopter. He's a guy who really cares about his friends, 
     and I guarantee you this won't be the last championship he 
     wins.''
       For Stewart, though, it will be a hard one to top in terms 
     of satisfaction. ``It's been a very special year,'' he says 
     of a title run that was far less stormy than his previous 
     one. ``This championship means 10 times more than the one I 
     won in 2002. I've had more fun this year than at any time in 
     my life.''
       All season long Stewart could be seen smiling when he 
     talked to his crew and hamming it up with the media. Which 
     prompts the question: What happened to Tempestuous Tony, the 
     hothead nicknamed Smoke, who infamously shoved a photographer 
     in 2002 and used to challenge other drivers to fights in the 
     garage?
       To understand Stewart's dramatic change in demeanor, you 
     must go back to the final race of 2004. Minutes after Stewart 
     hopped out of his Home Depot Chevy at Homestead,

[[Page H11604]]

     he told friends that he was packing his bags and heading 
     west. For six years he had lived just north of Charlotte, the 
     hub of NASCAR, but now he had decided to move back to his 
     childhood home in Columbus, Ind. The move made Stewart happy, 
     and it transformed his team. ``I can hit the reset button 
     here--and nobody bothers me,'' he said one day last summer. 
     ``My neighbors think of me as the same punk kid who smacked 
     baseballs into their aluminum siding.''
       Relaxed and upbeat, Stewart improved not just his attitude 
     but also his listening skills. The communication between 
     Stewart and his crew in 2005 was as free-flowing as it has 
     ever been in his six-year Cup career. In October '04, in a 
     meeting at Joe Gibbs Racing in Charlotte, several crewmen 
     told Stewart that in the past his heat-of-the-moment tongue-
     lashings had bruised egos. As a result, some in the crew were 
     reluctant to speak to Stewart when problems arose.
       ``That meeting really opened my eyes,'' says Stewart. ``I'm 
     only 5'8'' and 185 pounds, but I can intimidate people. That 
     had to stop because my guys need to be able to talk to me 
     about anything.''
       ``Tony moving home has meant everything to our team,'' says 
     shock specialist Ronny Crooks. ``Instead of looking at 
     problems, Tony now looks at solutions.''
       That positive attitude carried the team all year, from the 
     ups and downs of spring, through a red-hot summer (sparked by 
     a test session at Michigan in which Stewart and crew chief 
     Greg Zipadelli hit on a key suspension setup), to a carefully 
     controlled Chase, to the final lap at Homestead, ending a 
     season that will stand out in NASCAR history. ``I've never 
     really thought about where my place in the history of the 
     sport will ultimately be,'' says Stewart. ``I've got a lot 
     more to accomplish, and hopefully I'll win a few more 
     championships.''
       While Stewart is clearly driving toward the pantheon of the 
     alltime great American racers--a place where Earnhardt, Foyt, 
     Pearson and Petty all reside--he already shares one trait 
     with the legends: He likes to give the fans a show. So, late 
     in the evening of Nov. 20, at the urging of a few hundred 
     fans still in the Homestead grandstand an hour after the 
     race, Stewart scaled the catch-fence at the start-finish 
     line. As he triumphantly raised his arm, flashbulbs popped, 
     capturing what surely will be the defining image of NASCAR's 
     2005 season.

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
gentleman for yielding me time.
  Coming from Texas, we well know the importance and the excitement 
around NASCAR drivers and NASCAR participants and those who enjoy the 
excitement of this sport. And so I rise to briefly salute the sport.
  Being from Texas, I can assure you that there are thousands and 
thousands of fans to pay tribute to Mr. Stewart, who has been winning 
races since the age of 18. His record of being one of the triple crown 
winners in all three USAC major divisions, the National Midget, Sprint 
and Silver Crown, means that he is part of a growing and exciting 
sport. So it gives me great pleasure to join my colleagues as well and 
to support this initiative, H. Res. 587, to honor and salute him.
  Mr. Speaker, I was unable to join my colleagues on the floor of the 
House as the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) brought 
forward H. Con. Res. 315, which really speaks to the sensitivities of 
being an American. And that is the urging of the President to issue a 
proclamation for the observance of an American Jewish History Month.
  I think it makes America better when we understand each other's 
history. We all come from diverse communities and certainly have grown 
up understanding the importance of the American Jewish community and 
also the importance of the relationship between Israel and the United 
States and the contributions that those who come from throughout Europe 
and other places around the world of Jewish heritage who have now come 
to America and made some great contribution, whether it is medicine, 
politics, academics, science.
  We know that the American Jewish community has had an enormous 
history and impact on America. We also know, as a member of the broad 
American psyche, that the American Jewish community certainly has been 
a leader in the civil rights efforts of all Americans. It was very much 
the American Jewish community that worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther 
King, who understood the importance of the freedom of speech and the 
freedom of the first amendment. And so I think that this resolution 
that Ms. Wasserman Schultz offered on the floor of the House, H. Con. 
Res. 315, should draw the support of all of our colleagues.
  It makes America whole. It makes America embracing when we 
acknowledge and understand the history of all Americans.
  Allow me to conclude, as I listened to the debate as I was in another 
meeting, regarding H. Res. 579, regarding the symbols of Christmas, I 
do not think there is anything one can say other than we are a great 
country because we do have diversity and faith, diversity in 
background. I listened to the debate, although I could not join it as I 
was in meetings, but I think the simple premise should be that we 
welcome the freedom to worship and celebrate as our faiths and our 
cultures dictate.
  There are so many good wishes that we could offer during this season. 
Just a few weeks ago was Ramadan, and certainly, we can wish many 
others happy Chanukah, and certainly, there are those who celebrate and 
commemorate and praise the name of Christmas in the spirit of merry 
Christmas.
  I know that some thought H. Res. 579 was a bill that needed to be 
brought to the floor, but what I want to say, Mr. Speaker, is that none 
of my constituents has ever approached me to suggest that we should 
stop saying Merry Christmas or anyone has ever been offended because I 
might have said happy holidays and they celebrate Christmas.
  So why do I not conclude, it seems this may be a vote on the House, 
to say that I will enthusiastically vote for this bill, but at the same 
time, I am going to offer to this body that we should be respecting of 
the different faiths of many different people. And hopefully, by 
casting a vote for this initiative, H. Res. 579, we will not be casting 
a vote for discrimination or offense to anyone, but we really will be 
saying that however you express yourself, we welcome it.
  There should be many more bills like this or it should have been a 
comprehensive bill. But I simply close my remarks by thanking the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his leadership, thanking the 
sponsor for the original underlying bill honoring Mr. Stewart, H. Res. 
587, congratulating the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman 
Schultz) on the urging of the President to issue a proclamation for the 
observance of American Jewish History Month.
  I conclude by saying Merry Christmas, happy holidays and Happy New 
Year.

                              {time}  2045

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I do not believe that I am going to have any other requests for time, 
and so I am prepared to simply close and yield back.
  I want to commend the gentleman from Indiana. I come from Chicago 
where we have the Chicago White Sox and I represent them, and so I know 
what it feels like to have a champion. I commend him for introducing 
this resolution.
  I also want to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to simply say to 
the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter), the chairman of our 
subcommittee and his staff, that it has indeed been a pleasure working 
with you and your staff this entire year, and we look forward to coming 
back at the end of January.
  As we go and take all of this time off and be that much away from 
each other, I certainly want to wish for you and your staff and your 
family a merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. It has been a 
pleasure working with you.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First, my congratulations to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Wasserman Schultz). I think it is very appropriate and appreciate her 
bringing the bill to the floor recognizing such an important part of 
our culture.
  To the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), my ranking member of the 
subcommittee, I must say I have learned many things from him this year. 
He truly provides great leadership. He and his staff, too, have been a 
pleasure to work with, but I say certainly out of all due respect that 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) comes highly thought of to the 
committee. It has been a pleasure working with him and his 
professionalism, and I, too, look

[[Page H11605]]

forward to 2006 and say that to his staff and to Mr. Davis, of course, 
the best, a happy holiday season, a very special merry Christmas and 
happy Chanukah and for the kind words mentioned by some of your 
colleagues.
  We live in such a great Nation with a diverse background. We have had 
many problems through the years, and we still will have problems in the 
future; but I think that this body shows consistently, and continues to 
show, respect for that diversity. So I, again, say thank you and ask 
for Members to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Conaway). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 587.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________