Dragon Dojo choice as 'Official Small Business'

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Office Depot as named Dragon Dojo Martial Arts of Panama City, Fla., the fifth annual "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot."

Dragon Dojo Martial Arts owner Shihan Robert Wiest was introduced by Office Depot during a news conference Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wiest, 44, was joined by Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy Impala SS and team owner of Stewart-Haas Racing; Norris Scott, Managing Director of Partnership Marketing and Business Solutions at NASCAR; Brett Frood, Executive Vice President at Stewart-Haas Racing; and Ivan Reed, Senior Manager of Campaigns and Sales Promotions for Office Depot.

Wiest, who opened Dragon Dojo Martial Arts in 2001 and has grown his business from an initial enrollment of two students to more than 150 today, helped Stewart unveil the special edition No. 14 Chevy featuring his company's logo. The logo -- an eye-catching red dragon -- will make its on-track debut during the Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at AMS.

"Our business is about helping people learn to help themselves and stand strong on their own," said Wiest, who operates Dragon Dojo Martial Arts with his wife, Susan. "Both NASCAR and martial arts require a high level of focus and training, and we are so excited to reach a larger audience and more fans as the 'Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot.' "

Stewart, who has taken on the dual role of a driver/team owner with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009, said he was excited to provide an opportunity for a small business to gain exposure in front of a national audience.

"Building a successful business takes a lot of hard work and dedication, which is something I've learned firsthand over the years," Stewart said. "The Office Depot 'Official Small Business of NASCAR Sweepstakes' is an amazing chance for a small business owner like Shihan Robert Wiest to get his company's name out there, and I'm very proud to have the Dragon Dojo Martial Arts logo on my car this weekend."