Posted on Wed, Aug. 27, 2008

NASCAR veteran Tony Stewart the champion of multi-tasking

Tony Stewart’s idea of a day off differs from the average Joe’s.

That is, unless the average Joe spends his downtime driving 200 mph bumper-to-bumper with 42 other cars.

That’s where Stewart is finding his peace during the busiest season of his career. Besides trying to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup in his No. 20 Home Depot Toyota, Stewart has also spent this season preparing to be a co-owner/driver in 2009.

"The most relaxing part of my week is actually on weekends," said Stewart, 37. "I know what I’m doing with the Home Depot team, [crew chief Greg] Zipadelli and everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing. During the week it’s a little busier. I’m losing a little bit of sleep working hard trying to get ready for February."

February is when Stewart and the new Stewart-Haas Racing program will make its debut at the Daytona 500. Last month Stewart announced he would leave JGR, which he’s been a part of for 12 years. He’s a co-owner at Stewart-Haas Racing and he’ll drive the No. 14 Chevrolet in 2009.

Stewart has put much of his focus since the announcement of his new team on securing sponsorship and finding another driver. He’s succeeded at both as Old Spice and Office Depot will sponsor the No. 14. Last week Ryan Newman announced he would drive the No. 39 for Stewart-Haas in 2009.

If that isn’t enough, Stewart is still trying to find more sponsors, more personnel for his new team and oversee everything he possibly can. He’s spending more time with his future team than he is with his current ride. Add to that the dirt tracks and sprint car teams he owns, and there’s very little free time for Stewart.

While it sounds like a lot, Stewart had a good mentor in learning how to budget time.

"You do what Joe Gibbs has taught me; you hire the right people to do the right jobs," he said. "Once you do that, you let them do their jobs. I’ve got people that run the race teams in Indiana and run the racetracks that I know do a good job for me. They do the right things and that lets me have the time to focus on the variables I have to focus on."

Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage admires Stewart for trying such an undertaking.

"He’s biting off a lot," Gossage said. "But if anybody is able to chew it, it’s him. It’s going to take him a little while to get this program up to speed and at his age, he doesn’t have a whole lot of productive years left. It’s a risk, but I understand what he’s doing and why he’s doing it."

Stewart was at TMS on Tuesday for the Tony Stewart "Smoke Show," which gave fans a chance to find out what it’s like to be a driver for a day. The event raised $217,000 for Speedway Children’s Charities.

Stewart didn’t have much time to bask in his fund-raising success, though. He still has to focus his attention on his JGR team.

With two races remaining before the Chase field is set, Stewart is sixth in points. He has a chance to clinch a Chase spot Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in California, despite not having won a race this season.

"The reality of it is we’re not where we need to be right now," the 2002 and ’05 champion said. "In the next two weeks we may find something to put us in perfect position. Right now we’ve got some catching up to do."