As NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Tony Stewart (#20 The Home Depot Chevrolet) continued his busy slate of media interviews, appearances and social functions in New York, the rest of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 drivers arrived in the city and joined Stewart in Tuesdays activities. A highlight of Tuesdays NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champions Week presented by Sprint schedule was a visit to the FDNY New York Fire Academy in Manhattan. Stewart met the probationary officers, who are still undergoing training and affectionately dubbed probys by their fellow firefighters. Stewart also participated in a few training exercises, led by FDNY Fitness Instructor, Lieutenant Mike Cacciola.
Earlier, Stewart, Jimmie Johnson (#48 Lowes Chevrolet), Carl Edwards (#99 Office Depot Ford), Kurt Busch (#97 Sharpie/IRWIN Ford) and Brian Vickers (#25 GMAC Financial Services/ditech.com Chevrolet) attended a fundraising event for the Staten Island University Hospitals Pediatric Burn Center. Witnessing the intensive training exercises at the fire academy and spending time with the burn centers youngest patients provided a day of reflection for NASCARs biggest stars.
Its unbelievable, I have to pinch myself everyday, said Edwards. To be able to do what we’re doing and to be in New York City, taking the helicopter over Manhattan, its just unreal. I got to see the Statue of Liberty for the first time. This whole thing is just unreal to me. I’m glad to be here. For Busch, who was the center of attention as the 2004 champion, Tuesdays trip brought back fond memories of his own Champions Week experience. I’m able to enjoy things a bit better this year, said Busch. It gives me a vision and a memory of what it meant last year to win the championship. These great people in Staten Island, and just to make the hospital visit, that’s something I didn’t get the chance to do last year. Every time I get the chance to come to New York as a top 10 driver, Ill enjoy it.(PR)(11-30-2005)
