Researching Tony Stewart

Anthony Wayne Stewart (born May 20, 1971), nicknamed Smoke, is an American semi-retired professional stock car racing driver, current NASCAR team co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, and current co-owner of the Superstar Racing Experience. He is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion as a driver, winning titles in 2002, 2005, and 2011. As a team owner, he has won NASCAR Cup titles in 2011 with himself and in 2014 with Kevin Harvick as drivers. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won racing titles in Indy, midget, sprint, and USAC Silver Crown cars. He is the only driver in history to win a championship in both IndyCar and NASCAR.

He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (now known as the NASCAR Cup Series) during the 2016 season, driving the No. 14 Chevrolet SS for his team, Stewart-Haas Racing, under crew chief Mike Bugarewicz. From 1999 to 2008, he drove the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing car, under crew chief Greg Zipadelli with The Home Depot as the primary sponsor. While driving for car owner Joe Gibbs, Stewart won two Cup Series championships in 2002 and 2005. In 2011, Stewart became the first owner-driver since Alan Kulwicki to win the Cup Series championship, which ended Jimmie Johnson's streak of consecutive championships at five. Stewart is the only driver to win the Cup Series championship under the old points system and the chase playoff format, and is the only driver to win the title under three different sponsorships (Winston in 2002, Nextel in 2005, and Sprint in 2011). He is also the first driver in the Cup Series to win the championship by a tiebreaker. On May 22, 2019, Stewart was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. On November 21, 2021 he married Leah Pruett.

He was the Minister for Small Business, Minister for Science and Medical Research and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) in the New South Wales State Government from 8 September 2008 till 11 November 2008. He was dismissed by Premier Nathan Rees after allegations that he had verbally and physically harassed a staff member. Stewart later sought to challenge these allegations in the Court of Appeal which held that the decision to withdraw his commission as a minister was not subject to judicial review. In January 2010, he was appointed secretary assisting the minister for sport and recreation. Stewart was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly on 25 March 1995, representing the electorate Lakemba. He was elected as Member for Bankstown at a general election in March 1999 and re-elected to this district in March 2003 and March 2007.

Stewart decided to not contest the 2011 state election. The Labor Party endorsed Bankstown Mayor, Tania Mihailuk, as its candidate for the election held in March 2011.