As the Nextel Cup Series rolls into California’s wine country for this weekend’s Toyota/SaveMart 350k at Infineon Raceway, it’s time to toast Tony Stewart’s 300th career Nextel Cup start. The driver of the # 20 Home Depot Chevy first came to stock car racing’s pinnacle circuit in 1999 when he teamed with Joe Gibbs Racing and crew chief Greg Zipadelli. They debuted in the Daytona 500, where Stewart qualified on the outside front row next to another up-and-coming driver – Jeff Gordon. Stewart scored his first win in his 25th career start at Richmond, and has gone on to post 28 other wins and two Nextel Cup championships in his 274 starts since.(True Speed Communication PR)(6-18-2007)
