Just after the tarp on the pagoda at Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds was removed to reveal it’s new name of “Tony Stewart Speedway” Tuesday evening, the man for which it was named had a question.
“I just want to know if I get keys to it so I can practice whenever I want now,” Stewart joked.
The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hall-of-Famer got his start at the fairgrounds when he was 8 years old. He has gone on to become the only driver to win titles in stock cars, Indy cars, open wheel midgets, sprint and Silver Crown cars.
In 2003, Stewart started Tony Stewart Foundation to benefit chronically ill and physically disabled children, animals that are endangered or at risk and drivers injured in the sport of racing.
“Tony Stewart has proven to be a winner both in and out of the drivers seat,” fair board president Rick Trimpe said. “We would like to thank Tony for all he’s done for the race and for our track here at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds.”
Stewart remembered when he was a kid when the current pagoda was at the old 25th Street Speedway when the Fairgrounds was there.
“I remember as a kid when it got moved down here how excited we all were to bring the history of the Bartholomew County Fair and the fairgrounds coming out this direction, but to have this pagoda here, and now to have my name on it with ‘Speedway’ underneath it is a huge honor,” Stewart said. “I greatly appreciate the fair board.”
Even though he has been involved in NASCAR, which is based in North Carolina, as a driver, driver/owner and now just as an owner, Stewart has maintained a residence and a presence in his hometown. He has competed in the three-quarter midget race at the fair every year since 2013, except last year, when the fair was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stewart, who did race twice at the fairgrounds last fall, was back on Tuesday to compete in his All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets event.
“I love coming out here racing,” Stewart said. “I’ve been in Charlotte all day, but there’s one thing I don’t miss every year, and I will not miss racing the TQ here during fair week … This is a proud moment for me, being from here. I don’t think there’s anybody in the world that can ever say I forgot where I came from. And I never will. It’s where I’m always going to be, and it’s where my heart is.”
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To view more photos of the ceremony, go to therepublic.com.
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