Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Stewart to race a USAC Midget car at LVMS

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001 | 9:56 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Tony Stewart, the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year, will be racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next month -- but not in his familiar No. 20 Home Depot Pontiac.

Stewart confirmed that he will return to his racing roots and drive in the United States Auto Club Worldcom Midget Car Series season finale Nov. 24 on the half-mile dirt track at LVMS.

"Anytime I can find the time to run a USAC Midget, I'm going to do it," Stewart said. "My last USAC Midget win came about a month ago the Saturday night before I raced at Martinsville so, like I said, when I can find the time to run a USAC race, I'll do it."

Stewart became the first driver in history to win USAC's "Triple Crown" when he claimed the USAC National Midget, Sprint car and Silver Crown championships in 1995.

The following year, Stewart won Rookie of the Year honors in the Indy Racing League as well as being named Rookie of the Year at the 1996 Indianapolis 500. After winning the 1997 IRL championship, Stewart left open-wheel racing for a career in NASCAR.

Stewart will be driving in Las Vegas the day after the Winston Cup season finale at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H. The race originally was scheduled for Sept. 16, but was postponed because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

As a result of the Nov. 23 race in Loudon, Stewart said it wasn't likely he would be able to compete in the traditional "Turkey Night" Sprint and Midget races at Irwindale (Calif.) Raceway on Thanksgiving night.

"I'm not sure if I'll be able to run Turkey Night at Irwindale this year because of the rescheduled Winston Cup race the next day at New Hampshire, but I know I can make it back in plenty of time for the race at Vegas,"Stewart said. "My roots are in USAC and racing Midgets is my way of having fun so I'll be there."

"I feel I brought home the best and the most of myself," Zanardi said. "I didn't lose much. I got to know the importance of the love of family and friends. Sometimes in life we forget what we have.

"Motor racing has been a great passion of my life, not only my job, and maybe one day if I am able I will (race again). But the reality is I don't know what I will be able to do right now."

Zanardi will begin rehabilitation soon to learn to walk with prosthetic legs.

Jordan appealed that decision, and the appeal was heard Oct. 26 in Paris.

All 22 drivers who competed in the U.S. Grand Prix on Sept. 30 donated a helmet or driver's suit for the auction. Benetton driver Jenson Button donated an autographed helmet, but it was not the one he wore during the U.S. Grand Prix.

The auction continues through Nov. 10.

Going into last night's race at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City, Danny Lasoski held a seven-point lead over Mark Kinser in the series standings.