Credit: Autostock
February 12, 2004
4:32 PM EST (2132 GMT)
NASCAR.com: Welcome to our LIVE Chat with Tony Stewart!
Tony Stewart: I'm glad to be on and look forward to answering everybody's questions.
SamSack: Being a fan of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet I have been watching since Speedweeks began and would like to know to what to you attribute the lack of speed so far and are you getting a better handle on it as the week has passed? Sincere wishes for a great year.
TonyFan2: I know many people are saying that when it comes down to the end season, you will have a very good chance of winning the inaugural Nextel Cup Championship. How do you like your chances of winning under the new points format?
Tony Stewart: We feel like it's in the motor department, but we also know the team at the shop in North Carolina is working very hard to try to make it better for the rest of the week. I think if we can get in the top 10 by race 25 that we have as good a shot as anybody does.
ryan12_jj48: Hey Tony! Now that the new season is under way and you have previously won a Winston Cup Championship, what are your expectations? Do you have certain events such as the Brickyard 400 and Daytona 500 that you specifically aim higher goals at? Thanks and b
Tony Stewart: Actually, both of those and I definitely am looking forward to being the Inaugural Nextel Cup Champion also.
gotspeed: I know after the success you and Jr had at the Rolex 24, you said you were planning on coming back to do it again and a few more races this year. Will you be teaming up with Jr again or someone else...you guys seem to be a good team no matter what you do
Tony Stewart: I'm not sure what the driver lineup is going to be for the two races that I'm going to run, but definitely look forward to running races with Dale, Jr. again.
Thebestyou: How do you think the change of ownership in the WoO will effect the series, if at all?
Tony Stewart: It's hard to say right now, but if the Boundless group does what they say they're going to do, it should be great.
HOOVERDEPOT20: HI TONY. JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU IF YOU THINK THAT THE NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YATES AND ROUSH IS GOING TO BECOME A COMMON OCCURENCE IN THE NEXTEL CUP? IF GIBBS RACING HAD A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, WHAT TEAM WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THIS WITH?
Tony Stewart: Probably between DEI. Childress and Hendricks, but I hope that it's not a common occurrence in the future.
penny4tony: Tony, my husband and I were on your cruise and had a blast! Do you have another cruise plan in the future? Thanks for the quailty time you shared with us.
Tony Stewart: I'm not sure if we are or not. It takes a lot of work to put those cruises on, but I hope so.
Holly20fan: Hey Tony, With the new tires do you think the races could finally not be decided on fuel milage?
Tony Stewart: Absolutely! I think Goodyear has done a great job with the tires for this year. I don't think we'll see any more fuel mileage wins.
TonyRules20: Hi Tony Good luck in the coming year. How much influenece will you have with training J J Yeley in the Busch Series?
Tony Stewart: I'm going to be available for J J whenever he wants advice or help, but I think he'll do just fine.
KarenTSOT: Hi Tony! I just wanted to say good luck this season, and also to ask if you have a new puppy? We have seen some photos around the web of you holding a puppy and was wondering if that was yours? Also, how are your dogs?
Tony Stewart: Yes I do have a new puppy, and I'm actually playing with her right now. She's a 1 3/4 pound female taco bell dog.
Tony Stewart: My greyhounds are great. They're racing very well.
llwgolfpro: What have you found to be the difference between your pontiac and the chevy?
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Tony Stewart: I like the Aero balance of the Chevrolets much better than the old style Pontiac.
20fan4ever: What is your strategy for the 125, and will it be much different for the 500?
Tony Stewart: Try to get into the top 14 so we don't have to rely on our qualifying time and hopefully, we'll have better engines for the race on Sunday.
Tony Stewart: Try to get into the top 14 so we don't have to rely on our qualifying time and hopefully, we'll have better engines for the race on Sunday and we can plan a different strategy.
smokeysgirl: heko tony, I am from Columbus Indiana, and I am wondering of all the dirt tracks you have raced at which one is your favoite,and will you be racing at Brownstown Indiana any time this season,and of all the nascar tracks which on eis your favorite?
Tony Stewart: Richmond is my favorite NASCAR track and my favorite dirt track is Eldora and I would love to come back to Brownstown Speedway this year if time permits.
stoneranger: With the new batch of rookies this year which one has inpressed you the most?
Tony Stewart: Kasey Kahne and that's because I know his background in open wheel racing.
goober1820: Tony do you believe that with the new Race for the Championship that in those last 10 races drivers will take more chances than normal and drive more aggressive?
Tony Stewart: I don't think they will, but I've been wrong before, so we'll just have to wait and see.
timon: will you be racing at Lebanon Valley Speedway this year? It`s a blast to watch our "locals" compete against you
Tony Stewart: I'm not sure yet, but I enjoy going up there to race, so I hope so.
Racing05: What is your biggest concern regarding the 2004 season?
Tony Stewart: Just making sure we get ourselves in the top 10 by the 26th race.
TSOTjester: Do you think the Fords have a better advantage this year?
Tony Stewart: I think they will when they get their cylinder head. They already have a new nose and tail and when they get the new heads they're going to be pretty tough to beat.
Crazy_Larry: What happened to your Hula-Girl? She use to be televised quite regularly....Is she still a part of your team? If so, what significance does she have?
Tony Stewart: She left the race team and went back to Hawaii to be with her family and we miss her greatly, but we've go the new dog as a good luck charm instead.
justincanada: tony, are you planing any new videos or cameo appearances in the future?
Tony Stewart: I'm sure you'll see us in something this year. I just don't know what it will be yet. We like doing the music videos, so we'll probably have some coming up.
stewart20fan39: How do you see the 04 season going for the 20 team, and how do you see j.j.yeley fitting into the gibbs lineup of super drivers?
Tony Stewart: I think he will do a great job for us or we wouldn't have hired him. I think we'll had a good season this year. I have a lot of confidence in our entire program.
SMZOHIO77: HI Tony I`ve been a big fan of yours for a long time now. I was wondering if you watch any of the irl races in your free time and if you do who would you pick to win the 500 this year? good luck at daytona this week you`ll have alot of fans here in ohio
Tony Stewart: I watch as many of the IRL races as possible. I would say Sam Hornish has an excellent chance to win this year being with Penske.
20_Fan: Hello, Tony. With all of the work that Zippy puts in to make the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet so good, does he ever get a chance to get behind the wheel and run a few laps, maybe at a test or something like that?
Tony Stewart: He always has that opportunity if it's not at a NASCAR track, but he's never expressed an interest in taking any laps behind the wheel.
NASCAR.com: Tony, thank you for joining us here at NASCAR.com! Do you have some closing comments you can leave us
Tony Stewart: Anybody looking for a good avenue to see the behind the scenes side of me, either check out Smoke the DVD, or check out our new website SmokeVIP.com for a lot of great pictures and stories about what goes on behind the scenes away from the racetrack. Keep your fingers crossed for Sunday, and we will talk to everybody soon.
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