TONY STEWART
Home Depot Racing Team Report
Daytona Speedweeks • February 11-20, 2005
Gatorade Duel / Daytona 500 Car – Chassis No. 70:
This car debuted in the 2003 Daytona 500 where it was responsible for Stewart’s first top-10 Daytona 500 finish – seventh. It didn’t fare well in its next two races, as it was caught up in accident at Talladega in April to finish 35th. Its next race came at July in Daytona, where it finished an uncharacteristic 21st. It rebounded at Talladega in September with a strong third-place finish. The 2004 Budweiser Shootout marked its fifth career start, but it was the only action Chassis No. 70 saw in 2004. But after visiting the wind tunnel and testing at Daytona Jan. 11-13, Chassis No. 70 was chosen as the primary car for this year’s Daytona 500.
Daytona 500 Notes of Interest:
The Daytona 500 will mark Stewart’s 213th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series start and his 13th career, point-paying Nextel Cup start at Daytona.
Stewart’s best Daytona finish is second, which he earned in last year’s Daytona 500. It was his first top-five finish in 11 point-paying races at Daytona. When the series returned to Daytona for the July race, Stewart scored his second top-five finish with a solid fifth-place effort. Stewart has three other top-10 results in point-paying races at Daytona.
Stewart has led a total of 117 laps in the 12 point-paying races he has entered at Daytona. Ninety-eight of those laps came in last year’s Daytona 500.
Stewart won the 2002 IROC race at Daytona.
