[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2545]]
                      CONGRATULATING TONY STEWART

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2005

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize fellow Columbus, 
Indiana native Tony Stewart, not only for winning the 2005 NASCAR 
Nextel Cup Championship this year, but also for consistency and 
determination to finish each race.
  Before winning the 2002 Nextel Cup, Stewart declared, ``If we're 
going to win the championship, then we need to have consistency . . . 
winning helps too, but consistency--front-running consistency is what 
it's all about.''
  Tony's racing legacy began at age seven, Tony started his career like 
many young aspiring auto racing drivers: behind the wheel of a go-kart. 
In 1983, when Tony was 12, he won his first championship.
  In 1989, Stewart moved from go-karts to open wheelers, winning his 
first championship in the National Midget category in 1994; followed by 
the U.S. Auto Club's Triple Crown the very next year.
  It was in 1997 that Stewart began his NASCAR career racing in both 
the Indy Racing League and a full Busch schedule with team owner Joe 
Gibbs.
  By 1999, Stewart had taken the Winston Cup Racing Series by storm. 
That year the Indiana native debuted on the front-row of his first 
Daytona 500 and went on to score three more victories, more than any 
rookie driver in Winston Cup history. He also obtained two poles, 12 
top-five finishes, and 21 top-10 finishes, snagging 1999 Rookie of the 
Year.
  The hometown crowd was there this past August when Stewart, already a 
winner on short tracks, super-speedway and road course, capped an 
emotional day by clinching the Indianapolis Brickyard. And now, Stewart 
has out-dueled his rivals to take a second Nextel Cup title.
  Congratulations, Tony. Just like 2002, you got the job done with 
consistency and determination that makes Hoosiers proud.

                          ____________________