By Bob Baker
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (July 28, 2011) – The non-profit National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation is pleased to officially announce its “Salute to Champion Tony Stewart” exhibit, which will open Tuesday, August 2, and close Saturday, December 31. The one-time special exhibition, which includes his 1995 United States Auto Club (USAC) midget car, sprint car and Silver Crown car, 1997 Indy Racing League (IRL) Indy Car, 2005 NASCAR stock car, and 2006 International Race of Champions (IROC) car, is believed to be the first time ever that all six of his title-winning cars have been displayed in one place at one time.
According to foundation executive director Bob Baker, “The museum is currently in its twentieth year of being open to the public, seven days a week, year-round, and this is our biggest exhibition ever. We can’t thank Tony Stewart, Brett Frood, Nelson Stewart, Pam Boas, and Justin Fantozzi of the Goodyear Tire & Service Network enough for all they did to help make this happen. And I would be remiss in not thanking volunteer Bruce Neimeth of Neimeth Racing Enterprises for his hours of dedication in coordinating this special exhibition with museum curator Tom Schmeh and videographer Kris Krohn. The ‘Salute to Champions’ series of special exhibitions is a two-year program, timed to coincide with the foundation’s ‘Expand the Dream’ fundraising effort led by museum consultant Doug Lockin.”
Fans visiting the upcoming American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) 360-cubic-inch Knoxville Nationals, United States Auto Club (USAC) Non-Winged Knoxville Nationals, and the World of Outlaws (WoO) 410 c.i. Goodyear Knoxville Nationals will be able to tour the museum and see all six authentic cars, a ten-minute career highlight video showing Tony Stewart’s rise from USAC to IRL to NASCAR, and many other pieces of personal memorabilia on loan from Tony Stewart Racing (TSR).
The goal of this first special exhibition, as part of the overall two-year program, is to increase the museum’s national exposure, enhance the museum’s attendance and web site traffic, and increase museum store sales both in-store and on-line at www.sprintcarhof.com with the TSR-licensed exclusive commemorative “Salute to Champion Tony Stewart” t-shirt.
Those seeking further information on the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum’s “Salute to Champion Tony Stewart” special exhibition are urged to visit www.sprintcarhof.com or contact museum executive director Bob Baker at 641-842-6176.