It took just three starts for Tony Stewart to find his way to Victory Lane in 2021, ultimately ending his three-day visit to Arizona Speedway in San Tan Valley, Arizona. for the inaugural Wild Wing Shootout with a triumph on Jan. 24.
Cashing in for a top prize equaling $10,041, Stewart’s Wild Wing Shootout victory occurred from the pole position, eventually leading all 35 circuits around Arizona Speedway while keeping a pair of West Coast heavy hitters, DJ Netto and Dominic Scelzi, in his rearview mirror. A caution with 10 circuits remaining set up a last-ditch effort for the California duo, but the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer held strong, even withstanding multiple slide job attempts by Scelzi in the closing laps.
Stewart launched the program with the fastest time during qualifying time trials.
“This is the best track we’ve had all weekend,” said Stewart in Arizona Speedway Victory Lane. “We knew the start was going to be critical. I felt like we were good right from the start, and we were able to set a good pace. Even when we got to traffic, we never lost momentum and we were able to get by guys fairly smoothly. We have a lot of great people behind this car and they allow us to come out here and have fun like this.”
Before parking his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Rush Truck Centers/Advance Auto Parts/Curb Records/Ford Performance/Digital Ally/Sage Fruit/FloRacing/Absolute Automation and Security/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Mobil 1/Carquest Auto Parts/J&J Auto Racing/No. 14 sprint car in Victory Lane, Stewart kicked off his Wild Wing Shootout weekend with a seventh-place finish and 13th-place finish, respectively.
Stewart gets new sponsor for All Star midgets
General Tire, a nationwide leader in performance, passenger, light truck/SUV, winter and commercial tire production, will be the official title sponsor of Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets for the 2021 season. Founded in Akron, Ohio, in 1915 as the General Tire & Rubber Company, General Tire boasts more than 100 years of service, developing tires that prove “Anywhere Is Possible.”
“I am really excited to announce this partnership with General Tire,” said Stewart, owner of the All Star TQ Midgets. “We didn’t gain much traction with the Series last year due to COVID, but we are optimistic that a new year will bring plenty of new opportunities. We are working hard at securing dates at both familiar and new tracks. A big thank you to Travis and his team for partnering with us.”
In operation since 1961, the now General Tire All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets carries a longstanding tradition of competitiveness with events in recent seasons stretching throughout all four corners of the Hoosier State. With the help of General Tire, the Series hopes to continue those longstanding traditions while broadening the Series’ overall exposure.
“We’re pleased to announce our partnership with Tony and his All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets,” said Travis Roffler, Director of Marketing, General Tire. “General Tire has a history of being a strong supporter of the motorsports community and we are proud to continue that tradition through this partnership.”
The 2021 General Tire All-Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets schedule:
- April 30: Thunder Valley Raceway, Salem
- May 1: Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, Columbus
- May 8: Shelby County Fairgrounds, Shelbyville
- May 20: Circle City Speedway, Indianapolis
- May 22: Gas City Speedway, Gas City
- May 29: Richmond Raceway, Richmond, KY
- June 12: Twin Cities Raceway, North Vernon
- June 19: Rush County Fairgrounds, Rushville
- June 26: Circle City Speedway, Indianapolis
- June 29: Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, Columbus
- July 2: Rush County Fairgrounds, Rushville
- July 4: Rush County Fairgrounds, Rushville
- July 10: Decatur County Fairgrounds, Greensburg
- July 16: Thunder Valley Raceway, Salem
- July 17: Twin Cities Raceway, North Vernon
- July 24: Shelby County Fairgrounds, Shelbyville
- Aug. 27: Thunder Valley Raceway, Salem
- Aug. 28: Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, Columbus
- Sept. 4: Rush County Fairgrounds, Rushville
- Sept. 11: Shelby County Fairgrounds, Shelbyville
- Oct. 1: Thunder Valley Raceway, Salem
- Paragon Speedway has announced its 2021 racing season schedule:
- April 18: USAC Sprints and MMSA
- May 7: Johnson Memorial — Sprints, Hornets and Indiana Late Model Series
- May 21: Bomber Spring Fling — Sprints, Modifieds, Bombers and Hornets
- June 3: Indiana Midget Week — Sprints and USAC Midgets
- June 11: Sprints, Modifieds, Bombers and 305 Winged Sprints
- June 18: Chuck Amati 68 Laps — MSCS Sprints, MMSA and Hornets
- July 1: Independence Day Firework Celebration — Sprints, Hornets and Midget Cup
- July 11: Sprints, Hornets and 305 Winged Sprints
- July 23: Sprints, Super Stocks and Hornets
- July 31: Sprints, Super Stocks, Modifieds and Bombers
- Aug. 8: Sprints, Modifieds and Hornets
- Aug. 13: Fan Appreciation — Sprints, Bombers and Hornets
- Aug. 27: Sprints, Modifieds, Super Stocks and Bombers
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. Send comments to [email protected].
