Tony Steward Contract Extended Through 2004

CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 14, 2000) 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year Tony Stewart has signed a contract extension that keeps the Rushville, Ind., driver with Joe Gibbs Racing through the 2004 season. Stewart had a standard setting rookie campaign in 1999 in which he finished fourth in the final NASCAR Winston Cup point standings and won three races and two Bud Pole Awards driving Gibbs Racing's No. 20 Home Depot Pontiacs. He has signed a three-year contract extension, he said.

"It's nice to have security and it's nice to have Joe Gibbs think that much of me to offer me this kind of deal," Stewart, 28, said during an event that was held as part of the UAW-GM Motorsports Media Tour presented by Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Stewart and his Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte will be at Daytona International Speedway Monday and Tuesday to participate in the General Motors "mandatory" pre-season test session for NASCAR Winston Cup cars preparing for Speedweeks 2000, which begins for stock cars on Feb. 9.

Stewart says signing the deal is the final link in keeping the team's momentum on track heading into the NASCAR 2000 season.

"Our team has to keep focused on what got us our success in '99 -- take one race at a time and not look ahead to races beyond where we are in the schedule," Stewart said. "All of our people are staying in place this year so we don't have to worry about getting used to working with new guys. We know what we did to be successful in '99 -- it will take the same effort for 2000."