Stewart on TV show: On Tues., June 18 at 8:30pm/et, Tony Stewart will become the first race car driver solely featured on ESPN “The Life.” Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Pontiac, granted the four-man television crew unprecedented access to the goings-on of his life May 15-19. In those days surrounding The Winston, the crew showcased Stewart at home, at the track and at various appearances. “The Life” is part of ESPN’s original programming, taking viewers inside the lives of a thumbnail of sport’s most celebrated and intriguing athletes. Some of the athletes profiled this season are Allen Iverson of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, Paul Pierce of the NBA’s Boston Celtics, Brian Urlacher of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, Jeff Garcia of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, Ray Lewis of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, Landon Donovan of the men’s U.S. World Cup Soccer Team and the entire Boston Red Sox organization. Footage of Stewart was taken beginning with him landing at Concord Regional Airport May 15 as he returned from a short vacation in Indiana, to a Home Depot store appearance that night, to a round of media interviews at his home the next day, to qualifying and racing at Charlotte, culminating with a birthday party at his Lake Norman home. Other prominent figures of Stewart’s Winston Cup career appearing on “The Life” are crew chief Greg Zipadelli, team owner Joe Gibbs, teammate Bobby Labonte and NASCAR’s Jim Hunter. Pam Boas and Nelson Stewart, Tony’s mother and father, and his sister, Natalie, are also featured, as well as Willie Boles, Stewart’s USAC Sprint Car sponsor in 1995 – the year Stewart became the only driver to win the USAC Triple Crown in a single season. It took 42 tapes, each containing 30 minutes of air time, to log the 21 hours of footage – an ESPN “The Life” record for most tape shot. However, only 22 minutes of footage will make the final cut, allowing “The Life” to fit into its 30-minute time slot. ESPN “The Life” will re-air Fri., June 28 at 12:30am/et on ESPN, Sat., June 29 at 3:00am/et on ESPN, Tues., July 2 at 1:30pm/et on ESPN2 and Sun., July 28 at 1:00pm/et on ESPN.(6-16-2002)
