One of the most controversial names in contemporary NASCAR history is set to shake up New Zealand speedway towards the end of the year in December's Porter Hire International Sprint Car Series.
Tony Stewart is best known as a three-time NASCAR champion. But he's also an IndyCar Series winner, claiming the 1996-'97 title during the championship's infancy.
But if there's anything that can outshine the man's achievements, it's his off-track journey. Throughout his career, Stewart has worn his heart on his sleeve, which has led to several big emotional blow-ups. These range from throwing his helmet at cars, to fighting with former teammates, to saying incredibly hilarious things about NASCAR's official tyre supplier Goodyear that simply should not be said about a supplier.
But while in the eyes of, say, my mother, these things would be considered obscene and 'highly inappropriate', in the context of NASCAR Stewart's behaviour is seen as very much the opposite. His outspoken nature makes him, still, one of the most refreshing and honest voices in the sport.
And now he's coming to little New Zealand to divulge in another of his four-wheeled motorsport passions; sprint cars.
Stewart will bring his own Chevy-propelled Maxim oval-eating machine with him, in an effort to topple the best in New Zealand and some of the best in the world. The three-round series is spread across just one week, with two events at Vodafone Speedway (a la Western Springs) taking place on December 9 and 16 (both Saturdays) with one mid-week event at Robertson Holden splitting the pair.
It will be Stewart's first visit to New Zealand to race. Hopefully, it won't be his last either.