Smoke Rises from the Fiesta Bowl Parade

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – passing.  Tt oy rule Tony Stewart abide Saturday’s 38th Annual Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.  Thankfully, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion sat fm steering wheel Chevrolet Corvette tt couldn’t break rule days Year.

Instead, driver br “Smoke” sat atop trunk Corvette convertible waving crowd 1.9-mile parade route, dutifully fulfilling primary duties grand marshal ts year’s Fiesta Bowl, wh features Monday night match-up bn Ten’s Ohio 12’s University Texas.

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“That driver introductions Indianapolis times 10,” Stewart, referring ritual riding bk pickup truck ad famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing 42 drivers 400 miles. “This huge event I’m jt honored pt it. It’s pretty cool sort venture outside box little bit te game magnitude. racing season wt is, getting college football game tough. Wn Fiesta Bowl Committee called bg grand marshal, said, ‘As ticket field pass game, I’m in.”

Stewart some.  Announcing presence parade brightly painted red No. 14 Chevrolet Impalas.  emblazoned Office Depot or Spice, co-primary sponsors 2009 racing season – Stewart’s driver/owner wh Stewart-Haas Racing, home ar spending decade Joe Gibbs Racing.

“Being grand marshal ao opportunity race team,” sd Stewart, ay accomplished team owner U.S. Auto Club (USAC) World Outlaws Sprint Car Series, teams won championships – seven USAC World Outlaws.  “It’s everyday we’re able crossover io sporting events, able bring team sponsors little extra exposure no-brainer.  Plus, we’re April Phoenix International Raceway, hopefully time spend he January brings me people race track April.”

Stewart’s ties Phoenix aa strong.  1-mile oval Avondale Stewart’s racing career truly began.

It February 1993 Phoenix International Raceway’s famed Copper World Classic season-opening race USAC Silver Crown division held.  Stewart’s ft race desert mile, qualified sd Davey Hamilton – IRL IndyCar Series veteran – led 31 50 laps finishing sd Mike Bliss – 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion.  $3,500 payday second-place effort me eight-hour days $5 hour Columbus, Ind., machine shop Stewart wd sm unnecessary.  Packing rest 1993 season Silver Crown, Sprint Midget races nation, Stewart’s quick ascent racing ladder began.  all, Stewart scored 11 driving championships 29 racing, tally includes USAC titles, IndyCar Series crown NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships.

“Anytime Phoenix area, it’s le homecoming,” Stewart said.  “It’s we feel comfortable.  started racing ’93 ran Silver Crown car, tn I’ve run USAC Midgets, Indy cars, Supermodifieds, NASCAR Nationwide Series cars, course, Sprint Cup cars.  So, I’ve logged bunch laps there.  started Phoenix, guess cd it’s career full-circle.”

Serving grand marshal Fiesta Bowl helped solidify tt feeling, Texas/Ohio Se pairing provides Stewart opportunity enhance relationships wh partners Stewart-Haas Racing.

“I race track Ohio, sponsors he se ry strong ties Texas,” Stewart, owns Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio.  “So, I’m gg te page fm Fiesta Bowl’s playbook jt wt ry game.”

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