By Bob Baker
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (November 22, 2011) – As Homestead, Florida, begins to return to normal following this past weekend’s NASCAR point title fight, won by three-time NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart, the non-profit National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum in Knoxville, Iowa, prepares to do just that in a little over one month as its ultra-successful “Salute to Champion Tony Stewart” exhibit will close at the end of the year. The one-time special exhibition, which includes his championship-winning 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, officially opened on August 2 and will formally close on December 31.
According to museum executive director Bob Baker, “Racing fans in general, and Tony Stewart fans in particular, have just a little over five weeks to take in this incredible display which details his championship career to date. The exhibition has been our biggest and best effort in twenty years of being open to the public and we are very proud of it, especially in light of Tony’s championship-winning run on Sunday in south Florida. We can’t thank Tony Stewart, Brett Frood, Nelson Stewart, Pam Boas, Justin Fantozzi of the Goodyear Tire & Service Network, and museum volunteer Bruce Neimeth enough for all they did to help make this special exhibition happen.”
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum is open seven days a week, year-round, although it will be closed on both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. In addition to the display, the museum offers an exclusive “Salute to Champion Tony Stewart” poster and apparel for sale in its museum store and www.sprintcarstuff.com on-line store. 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 executive director Bob Baker at 641-842-6176.