At a Glance: Shane Stewart Ready to Roll Into the Month of Money
The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series takes on the FVP Outlaws at Cedar Lake double-header beginning Friday, July 8
CONCORD, N.C. – July 7, 2016 – The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series kicks off the ‘Month of Money’ on Friday at Cedar Lake Speedway for the FVP Outlaws at Cedar Lake. One driver who comes into the grueling month-long stretch of the biggest races of the season with experience and success is Shane Stewart.
Last season, Stewart, en route to a second place points finish and in his first full series season in a decade, cruised through the ‘Month of Money’ scoring some of the highest profile wins of the season. He swept both nights at Eldora Speedway and claimed his first Kings Royal win and then went on score the Ironman 55 title. Stewart also stood in victory lane on one of the preliminary nights at the Knoxville Nationals and finished fourth on Knoxville Saturday.
The stretch that includes the Brad Doty Classic, Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup, the Kings Royal, Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway, Ironman 55 and Knoxville Nationals, among others, requires a level of mental toughness to achieve night after night. Stewart said another factor is who is there supporting you.
“You’ve got to have good people surrounding you and last year we proved that,” Stewart said. “We did get some big wins last year – some wins that some really great drivers never get to achieve. Obviously, winning at the Kings Royal was really special, running well at Nationals is always special and winning the Ironman was really cool too. We’re hoping to be able to back that up.”
Staying motivated as a driver is one thing, but keeping the crew motivated is another, Stewart said.
“It’s tough because they put in so many hours – more hours than many people can imagine,” Stewart said. “To keep the cars maintained, you’ve got to work hard at it, especially at this level. But when you race this many races, this grueling schedule, it’s harder on them than it is on the driver. The thing I can do the most is be a cheerleader and amp them up as much as I can and try to keep them motivated.
One big thing that helps, he said was winning and running well, something that he and his longtime crew members, Scotty Martin, Heath Moyle and Andrew Seamans, have been doing this season. Stewart has five wins on the season, most recently at Brown County Speedway, and sits third in the championship standings.
Through a season that has seen the level of parity among competitors as close as it has ever been, Stewart said it’s going to be hard for his No. 2 Larson Marks Racing team to back up what they did last season.
“Obviously, we know that we can do it now,” Stewart said. “When you win big races, and you get the confidence built up that you can do it, that helps. These aren’t easy races to win.”
“I’m looking forward to the ‘Month of Money.’ As a sprint car guy, who makes his living this way, this is a special month. We’re hoping we can pull off some big wins.”