Tony Stewart.

Sprint Cup, Nextel Cup and Winston Cup champion. He holds an IndyCar championship. He holds Midget and Sprint car championships. He owns his own racing team. He owns race tracks. He has had his share of run-ins with NASCAR, media and other drivers.

Beyond any of that, he is a likeable guy. His composure at Daytona following the Nationwide race was nothing less than humble and genuinely concerned for the fans involved in the front stretch mayhem.

Even at Bristol, where an early race tire and crowded track put his #14 into the wall, he kept cool and drove what he could with no chance to get back up front.

Yes… He has been labeled as moody and cantankerous but to meet and speak with him close in and one on one he is quite the fellow. A sense of humor which borders on the mischievous, self-deprecating one liners and a genuine smile with a glint in his eye like he knows something you don’t characterize the man when out of the racing suit.

mville_stew04_250In the racing suit much of this carries over. However, when the green flag drops the race face is on. He has a temper. Nobody holds that back from him. Most of the drivers do. Stewart can express his flare with a look, a wave off or even a flying helmet.

It’s part of the drama of racing and the history that has placed him where he is. Champion, team owner, driver…

It is also what was so intriguing about the opportunity to talk racing with him. On a partly sunny day at Martinsville Speedway, not unlike any given race day there, Stewart made the trip to talk racing and introduce a new facility the speedway is opening.

“Club 47” is a front stretch suite overlooking the entire track. There is spacious seating, comfortable lounge atmosphere, a bar, food service and a price point.

The price…? Well, that is between you and Martinsville Speedway. However, with the view, the access, beverages, food, comfort, special parking and the position well above long restroom lines it is a bargain. “Club 47” is a lounge, set much like a night club, with some of the best racing of NASCAR as the floor show.

There is no disco ball.

There was, however, champion driver Tony Stewart. Open and honest about the difficulties of close racing on a short track, Stewart made the point of keeping score of who hit who while also maintaining the composure of keeping the eye on the goal of the win and not the retaliation. He mentioned fond memories of wins there. He mentioned his first thoughts from his first race there, recalling how he thought about big, heavy stock cars on a track not much larger than his early days on starter tracks.

Apparently, he figured it out as he has three wins at Martinsville Speedway, with Winston, Nextel and Sprint sponsored Cup series. Not bad…

mville_stew01_300He was also quite candid about team driver Danica Patrick. He says she is eager, talented, feisty. She is ready to win but also ready to accept the time to learn. It is obvious he respects her as a driver, a team mate and a person and is proud to have her on with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Ryan Newman, also with Stewart-Haas, has had good results at Martinsville and Stewart was quick to point them out. He noted the cross-over of information in the garage, the group effort from the shop to the office and the desire of everyone to stay focused.

He smiled, even laughed, quite a bit. It gives the impression he is enjoying what he is doing.

We couldn’t think of anyone better qualified to open the bar, so to speak, on “Club 47”. Tony Stewart has worked his way up through racing and is in a position to enjoy the finer things. “Club 47” is one of the finer things.

club47_all

We may not get the opening to chill in those surroundings beyond this opening visit, certainly not with a champion driver such as Tony Stewart. So yes… We had seconds.

Second, however, is not Tony Stewart’s goal. His season start hasn’t been what he hoped for but he pointed out, coming away from Bristol last weekend, that it is only four races in and there is so much yet to come.

Martinsville Speedway, on April 7th for the STP Gas Booster 500, is one of those yet to come. Even if you can’t make “Club 47”, make for a seat in the stands as Tony Stewart, the new “Gen-6” Cup Car, and all the other drivers are coming in fast and hot for a win.

The Kroger 250 is on the 6th. Qualifying is on the 5th. Tickets can be had from the Fan Zones (Tony Stewart to be featured), to track tours, to the new “Club 47” by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX or visiting Martinsville Speedway online. Check out Tony, Ryan and Danica at Stewart-Haas Racing online!

Pick a seat, pick a driver and go racing!

Tony’s last Martinsville win, The Tums Fast Relief 500 in October of 2011, vaulted him forward to the championship of that year. At post race, somebody tossed some Krispy-Kremes on the hood of the Office Depot #14 Chevy!

ts_win2011_dnuts

We think it’s kind of cool the above image will be hanging in the shops at Stewart-Haas Racing. We presented the framed photo, while trying not to act like a school girl at American Idol, and Stewart accepted with a smile and a mention of hanging it in the shop. With that honor, we quietly squealed inside…

See you at “The Club”!

club 47001