Tony Stewart
A fiercely competitive American racer who conquered both IndyCar and NASCAR, then built a championship-winning team from the ground up.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American racing driver and team owner·Birthday: May 20·Generation X
Biography
Tony Stewart, known universally as 'Smoke', is a force of nature in American motorsports. His career is a tale of two circuits: he first mastered open-wheel racing, winning an IndyCar Series title in 1997. But his true legend was forged in NASCAR, where his aggressive, no-nonsense style made him a fan favorite and a formidable competitor. He captured three Cup Series championships, a remarkable feat that included the 2011 title won in a dramatic, winner-take-all season finale. Never one to follow a conventional path, Stewart then leveraged his success as a driver to become a powerhouse owner, co-founding Stewart-Haas Racing. The team swiftly validated his vision, winning a championship with Kevin Harvick in 2014. Even after retiring from full-time Cup racing, his competitive fire burns in NHRA Top Fuel dragsters, proving his passion for speed is limitless.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Tony was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Tony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the NASCAR Cup Series championship three times (2002, 2005, 2011).
- Captured the IndyCar Series championship in 1997, showcasing his versatility.
- Co-founded Stewart-Haas Racing, which won the Cup Series owners' championship in 2011 and 2014.
- Is one of only a handful of drivers to win championships in both IndyCar and NASCAR.
Did You Know?
He owns and operates Eldora Speedway, a major dirt track in Ohio.
He won the 2011 NASCAR Cup title without winning a single race in the regular season.
He has competed in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day (the 'Double').
His nickname 'Smoke' originated from his early dirt track racing days.
“If you're not a race fan, that's okay. Just don't bother me while I'm watching one.”
