[Pages H11602-H11605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

CONGRATULATING TONY STEWART ON WINNING THE 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP
CHAMPIONSHIP

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 587) congratulating Tony Stewart on winning the
2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship.
The Clerk read as follows:

H. Res. 587

Whereas Tony Stewart won NASCAR's Nextel Cup Championship
in 2005, the 57th season of NASCAR's premier series;
Whereas Stewart finished with an amazing 6,533 points, the
most for any driver in the 2005 NASCAR series;
Whereas Stewart in the 2005 series won 3 starting pole
positions, had 5 wins, 17 top 5 finishes, and 25 top 10
finishes;
Whereas Stewart also won the Gatorade Duel 2, the Dodge/
Save Mart 350, the Pepsi 400, the New England 300, and the
Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen;
Whereas Stewart's #20 car started in 22nd position, led the
most laps, and also finished first in the Allstate 400 at the
Brickyard, continuing Hoosier dominance at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway's only NASCAR Nextel Cup race;
Whereas Stewart is the recipient of Indiana's highest
honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash, which was awarded to him
by Governor Mitch Daniels on August 29, 2005, after Stewart
won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard;
Whereas Stewart has won 2 NASCAR Nextel Cup Championships
in only his 7th year in the NASCAR circuit;
Whereas Stewart has won 8 other auto racing championships
in his career including the Indy Racing League;
Whereas Stewart has ranked in the top 10 every season since
his 1999 rookie year and has never ranked lower than 7th in
the final point standings; and
Whereas Stewart, who began racing in Indiana and excelled
at a very young age, was born in Columbus, Indiana, and
continues to have close ties with the State of Indiana and
the City of Columbus: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates
Tony Stewart for winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup
Championship.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada.

General Leave

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 587.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Nevada?
There was no objection.
Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 587, which
congratulates Tony Stewart on winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup
Championship.
Madam Speaker, as a NASCAR fan and frequent patron of the Las Vegas
Motor Speedway, home of many NASCAR races, I am glad to be speaking on
this resolution this evening.
Tony Stewart has become the 14th driver in NASCAR history with more
than one championship, despite a 15th place finish at the Homestead-
Miami Speedway on November 20. The finish solidified his reign in the
NASCAR points chase.

{time} 2030

He finished with a 35-point lead over fellow driver Greg Biffle to
win the Cup. This is Stewart's second title in 4 years, and he joins
Jeff Gordon as they claim the honor of being the only active full-time
drivers with multiple titles.
For Stewart, it was the perfect finish to a near-perfect season as he
consistently stayed on top of the points board for 13 of the final 14
weeks. He was on top at the start of the 10 race chase for the
championship and fell off the leader board just once, when he dropped
to fifth place after round two. Stewart soon found his way back to the
top a week later and never looked back.
I urge all Members to come together to congratulate Tony Stewart on
an unforgettable season by adopting H. Res. 587.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H. Res. 587, congratulating Tony Stewart on
winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship.
Mr. Speaker, born in Columbus, Indiana, in 1971, Tony Stewart has
been winning races since the age of 16. He grew up racing go-carts and
won the world carting championship in 1987. He raced three-quarter
midgets for a handful of years and then moved up to the USAC series.
Stewart was the USAC rookie of the year in 1991 and the National Midget
Series Champion in 1994.
In 1995, Stewart became the first driver to win USAC's version of the
triple crown by earning championships in all three USAC major
divisions, National Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown. Stewart burst onto
the Nextel Cup scene in 1999 with more experience in the big leagues of
motor sports than most other rookies. Posting three wins in his rookie
season, he laughed off the often-experienced sophomore slump jinx with
six more wins in 2000.
Throughout his stellar career, Stewart has never finished a season
outside of the top ten in points, including his brilliant 2002
champion-winning season. His 2005 season was magical. In addition to
taking his second Nextel Cup title, the 34-year-old realized a lifelong
goal by winning the Brickyard 400 as part of an amazing summer that saw
Stewart win five races in seven weeks.
Stewart wrapped up his second NASCAR Nextel Cup championship in
Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the 57th season of
NASCAR's premier series. Winning two NASCAR Nextel Cup Championships in
only 7 years on the NASCAR circuit is quite an accomplishment. Tony
Stewart is deserving of this resolution which recognizes and
congratulates him for his accomplishments, and I would urge its passage
and support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Sodrel).

[[Page H11603]]

Mr. SODREL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of this
resolution. I was happy to offer this resolution honoring a constituent
of mine, Tony Stewart, for one of the greatest accomplishments in motor
sports, winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup.
This resolution is co-sponsored by several of my colleagues from
Indiana, Mr. Pence, Mr. Burton, Mr. Souder, Mr. Hostettler and Ms.
Carson. This achievement is even more amazing considering this is Mr.
Stewart's second NASCAR Cup win in only his seventh season competing on
the NASCAR circuit. Not only has Mr. Stewart won two NASCAR
championships, his resume is more impressive when you consider he has
also won eight other auto racing championships, including the Indy
Racing League.
This season, NASCAR fans and even the casual spectator watching
highlights on ESPN SportsCenter all saw Mr. Stewart's number 20 Home
Depot/Joe Gibbs racing car capture the checkered flag in an orange and
black blur six times during the season. These victories came at the
Gatorade Duel 2, the Dodge Save Mart 350, the Pepsi 400, the New
England 300, the Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen and the Allstate
400 at the Brickyard. It was at the Brickyard, Indiana's crown jewel on
the NASCAR circuit, where Mr. Stewart started in the 22nd position and
worked his way through the pack to lead the most laps on his way to
victory.
Mr. Stewart's path to his second championship started in his hometown
of Columbus, Indiana. Just outside of Columbus is a town called
Westport where he raced go-carts in 1978.
Mr. Speaker, I will be submitting an article from the December 1,
2005, edition of Sports Illustrated which eloquently highlights the
career of Mr. Stewart.
Sports Illustrated writer Lars Anderson writes about Mr. Stewart's
hardworking Hoosier roots and his entry into the racing world: ``Tony
Stewart was 22 years old and living rent-free in a friend's house in
Rushville, Indiana, when he hit a crossroads. For months, he had been
working in a machine shop 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, running a drill
press for $5 an hour and wondering if he had what it took to become a
professional racer. Then, one afternoon early in 1993, he asked his
boss if he could borrow money for a ticket to Phoenix. The Copper World
Classic, a USAC event for open-wheel cars at Phoenix International
Raceway, was going to be held in a few days, and Stewart, who raced on
the weekends in the Midwest, wanted to test his talent against West
Coast drivers. So he asked his boss for a loan, and neither Stewart's
life nor American motor sports have been the same since.''
Indeed, American motor sports have never been the same since.
Mr. Stewart won three carting championships, four USAC titles and the
IRL crown before becoming the NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1999 and
winning his first NASCAR Winston Cup title in 2002.
Mr. Stewart recalls to Mr. Andrews how he entered the world of
professional auto racing. He said, ``I got the loan and wound up
finishing second in the race, and I made $3,500.'' ``When I got home
from Phoenix, I looked at the paycheck and calculated how long it would
take me to make that much in the machine shop. I said to myself, It's
now or never, and that's when I decided to go for it.''
Mr. Speaker, that is the American dream, going for it; taking the
risk; taking advantage of the opportunities. Mr. Stewart's rise to the
top is indicative of his Hoosier work ethic and pride in a job well
done. But Mr. Stewart should also be recognized for his accomplishments
outside of motor sports. His commitment to philanthropy led him to
start the Tony Stewart Foundation to help terminally ill children and
to aid the families of drivers injured in motor sports.
For his contributions to the State of Indiana, a State rich in motor
sports history, Mr. Stewart was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, the
State of Indiana's highest honor. Governor Mitch Daniels presented the
award after Mr. Stewart's number 20 car and his crew won Indiana's only
NASCAR Nextel Cup race, the Brickyard 400.
This race is held annually at the most storied of racetracks in the
world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. Mr.
Stewart is not only held in respect by his fellow Hoosiers but by his
fellow racers as well. His colleague Mark Martin said, ``Tony Stewart,
in my eyes, is the greatest race car driver I have watched drive in
this era. A.J. Foyt might have been that when I was a little boy, but
Tony Stewart is my driving hero.''
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., said, ``Tony's as talented as they come. He's
also one of the most genuine guys in our sport. He was one of the few
people who stepped up for me when my dad died. He's a guy who really
cares about his friends, and I guarantee you this won't be the last
championship he wins.''
Jeff Gordon, a fellow Hoosier and four-time NASCAR Cup champion said,
``Tony is a true American racer. You can put him in any car on any
track and he'll be fast. He's good on the short tracks, the
intermediate tracks, the restrictor-plate tracks and the road
courses.''
I am proud to honor Mr. Stewart, an American driver at the top of the
racing world, a Hoosier, and a Ninth District constituent. I ask for my
colleagues to support this resolution to congratulate him on his
accomplishments.

[From Sports Illustrated, Dec. 2005]

The Champion

(By Lars Anderson)

Tony Stewart was 22 years old and living rent-free in a
friend's house in Rushville, Ind., when he hit a crossroads.
For months he had been working in a machine shop, eight hours
a day, five days a week, running a drill press for $5 an hour
and wondering if he had what it took to become a professional
racer. Then, one afternoon early in 1993, he asked his boss
if he could borrow money for a ticket to Phoenix. The Copper
World Classic, a USAC event for open-wheel cars at Phoenix
International Raceway, was going to be held in a few days,
and Stewart, who raced on weekends in the Midwest, wanted to
test his talent against West Coast drivers. So he asked his
boss for a loan, and neither Stewart's life, nor American
motor sports, has been the same since.
``I got the loan and wound up finishing second in the race,
and I made $3,500,'' Stewart recalled as he sat in the back
of an Agusta helicopter that was carrying him to Homestead-
Miami Speedway on Nov. 17 for the start of what Stewart would
later call the most important racing weekend of his life.
``When I got home from Phoenix, I looked at the paycheck and
calculated how long it would take me to make that much in the
machine shop. I said to myself, It's now or never. And that's
when I decided to go for it.''
In NASCAR's season finale at Homestead, almost 13 years
after he made his decision, Stewart solidified his status as
one of the top drivers of his generation when he wrapped up
his second career Cup championship by coming in 15th in the
Ford 400. Stewart, who finished 35 points ahead of Greg
Biffle and Carl Edwards in the final standings, joined an
exclusive club: He became the 14th driver in NASCAR's 58-year
history to win multiple titles. Among current drivers,
Stewart is only the second to have won more than one Cup
championship. (Jeff Gordon, who has won four, is the other.)
Though Stewart didn't win any of the final 10 races of 2005,
his average finish of 8.7 during the Chase was second only to
Carl Edwards's 8.4. And during the final two thirds of the
season, Stewart was as consistent as any NASCAR driver in
recent memory: Over the final 22 races of '05 he finished in
the top 10 an astonishing 19 times.
``Tony Stewart, in my eyes, is the greatest race car driver
I've watched drive in this era,'' says Mark Martin. ``A.J.
Foyt might have been that when I was a little boy, but Tony
Stewart is my driving hero.''
``Tony is a true American racer,'' says Gordon. ``You can
put him in any car on any track, and he'll be fast. He's good
on the short tracks, the intermediate tracks, the restrictor-
plate tracks and the road courses.''
``Tony's as talented as they come,'' says Dale Earnhardt
Jr. ``He's also one of the most genuine guys in our sport. He
was one of the few people who stepped up for me when my dad
died. He opened his home to me and offered me his car, his
helicopter. He's a guy who really cares about his friends,
and I guarantee you this won't be the last championship he
wins.''
For Stewart, though, it will be a hard one to top in terms
of satisfaction. ``It's been a very special year,'' he says
of a title run that was far less stormy than his previous
one. ``This championship means 10 times more than the one I
won in 2002. I've had more fun this year than at any time in
my life.''
All season long Stewart could be seen smiling when he
talked to his crew and hamming it up with the media. Which
prompts the question: What happened to Tempestuous Tony, the
hothead nicknamed Smoke, who infamously shoved a photographer
in 2002 and used to challenge other drivers to fights in the
garage?
To understand Stewart's dramatic change in demeanor, you
must go back to the final race of 2004. Minutes after Stewart
hopped out of his Home Depot Chevy at Homestead,

[[Page H11604]]

he told friends that he was packing his bags and heading
west. For six years he had lived just north of Charlotte, the
hub of NASCAR, but now he had decided to move back to his
childhood home in Columbus, Ind. The move made Stewart happy,
and it transformed his team. ``I can hit the reset button
here--and nobody bothers me,'' he said one day last summer.
``My neighbors think of me as the same punk kid who smacked
baseballs into their aluminum siding.''
Relaxed and upbeat, Stewart improved not just his attitude
but also his listening skills. The communication between
Stewart and his crew in 2005 was as free-flowing as it has
ever been in his six-year Cup career. In October '04, in a
meeting at Joe Gibbs Racing in Charlotte, several crewmen
told Stewart that in the past his heat-of-the-moment tongue-
lashings had bruised egos. As a result, some in the crew were
reluctant to speak to Stewart when problems arose.
``That meeting really opened my eyes,'' says Stewart. ``I'm
only 5'8'' and 185 pounds, but I can intimidate people. That
had to stop because my guys need to be able to talk to me
about anything.''
``Tony moving home has meant everything to our team,'' says
shock specialist Ronny Crooks. ``Instead of looking at
problems, Tony now looks at solutions.''
That positive attitude carried the team all year, from the
ups and downs of spring, through a red-hot summer (sparked by
a test session at Michigan in which Stewart and crew chief
Greg Zipadelli hit on a key suspension setup), to a carefully
controlled Chase, to the final lap at Homestead, ending a
season that will stand out in NASCAR history. ``I've never
really thought about where my place in the history of the
sport will ultimately be,'' says Stewart. ``I've got a lot
more to accomplish, and hopefully I'll win a few more
championships.''
While Stewart is clearly driving toward the pantheon of the
alltime great American racers--a place where Earnhardt, Foyt,
Pearson and Petty all reside--he already shares one trait
with the legends: He likes to give the fans a show. So, late
in the evening of Nov. 20, at the urging of a few hundred
fans still in the Homestead grandstand an hour after the
race, Stewart scaled the catch-fence at the start-finish
line. As he triumphantly raised his arm, flashbulbs popped,
capturing what surely will be the defining image of NASCAR's
2005 season.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished
gentleman for yielding me time.
Coming from Texas, we well know the importance and the excitement
around NASCAR drivers and NASCAR participants and those who enjoy the
excitement of this sport. And so I rise to briefly salute the sport.
Being from Texas, I can assure you that there are thousands and
thousands of fans to pay tribute to Mr. Stewart, who has been winning
races since the age of 18. His record of being one of the triple crown
winners in all three USAC major divisions, the National Midget, Sprint
and Silver Crown, means that he is part of a growing and exciting
sport. So it gives me great pleasure to join my colleagues as well and
to support this initiative, H. Res. 587, to honor and salute him.
Mr. Speaker, I was unable to join my colleagues on the floor of the
House as the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) brought
forward H. Con. Res. 315, which really speaks to the sensitivities of
being an American. And that is the urging of the President to issue a
proclamation for the observance of an American Jewish History Month.
I think it makes America better when we understand each other's
history. We all come from diverse communities and certainly have grown
up understanding the importance of the American Jewish community and
also the importance of the relationship between Israel and the United
States and the contributions that those who come from throughout Europe
and other places around the world of Jewish heritage who have now come
to America and made some great contribution, whether it is medicine,
politics, academics, science.
We know that the American Jewish community has had an enormous
history and impact on America. We also know, as a member of the broad
American psyche, that the American Jewish community certainly has been
a leader in the civil rights efforts of all Americans. It was very much
the American Jewish community that worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther
King, who understood the importance of the freedom of speech and the
freedom of the first amendment. And so I think that this resolution
that Ms. Wasserman Schultz offered on the floor of the House, H. Con.
Res. 315, should draw the support of all of our colleagues.
It makes America whole. It makes America embracing when we
acknowledge and understand the history of all Americans.
Allow me to conclude, as I listened to the debate as I was in another
meeting, regarding H. Res. 579, regarding the symbols of Christmas, I
do not think there is anything one can say other than we are a great
country because we do have diversity and faith, diversity in
background. I listened to the debate, although I could not join it as I
was in meetings, but I think the simple premise should be that we
welcome the freedom to worship and celebrate as our faiths and our
cultures dictate.
There are so many good wishes that we could offer during this season.
Just a few weeks ago was Ramadan, and certainly, we can wish many
others happy Chanukah, and certainly, there are those who celebrate and
commemorate and praise the name of Christmas in the spirit of merry
Christmas.
I know that some thought H. Res. 579 was a bill that needed to be
brought to the floor, but what I want to say, Mr. Speaker, is that none
of my constituents has ever approached me to suggest that we should
stop saying Merry Christmas or anyone has ever been offended because I
might have said happy holidays and they celebrate Christmas.
So why do I not conclude, it seems this may be a vote on the House,
to say that I will enthusiastically vote for this bill, but at the same
time, I am going to offer to this body that we should be respecting of
the different faiths of many different people. And hopefully, by
casting a vote for this initiative, H. Res. 579, we will not be casting
a vote for discrimination or offense to anyone, but we really will be
saying that however you express yourself, we welcome it.
There should be many more bills like this or it should have been a
comprehensive bill. But I simply close my remarks by thanking the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his leadership, thanking the
sponsor for the original underlying bill honoring Mr. Stewart, H. Res.
587, congratulating the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman
Schultz) on the urging of the President to issue a proclamation for the
observance of American Jewish History Month.
I conclude by saying Merry Christmas, happy holidays and Happy New
Year.

{time} 2045

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I do not believe that I am going to have any other requests for time,
and so I am prepared to simply close and yield back.
I want to commend the gentleman from Indiana. I come from Chicago
where we have the Chicago White Sox and I represent them, and so I know
what it feels like to have a champion. I commend him for introducing
this resolution.
I also want to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to simply say to
the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter), the chairman of our
subcommittee and his staff, that it has indeed been a pleasure working
with you and your staff this entire year, and we look forward to coming
back at the end of January.
As we go and take all of this time off and be that much away from
each other, I certainly want to wish for you and your staff and your
family a merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. It has been a
pleasure working with you.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
First, my congratulations to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Wasserman Schultz). I think it is very appropriate and appreciate her
bringing the bill to the floor recognizing such an important part of
our culture.
To the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), my ranking member of the
subcommittee, I must say I have learned many things from him this year.
He truly provides great leadership. He and his staff, too, have been a
pleasure to work with, but I say certainly out of all due respect that
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) comes highly thought of to the
committee. It has been a pleasure working with him and his
professionalism, and I, too, look

[[Page H11605]]

forward to 2006 and say that to his staff and to Mr. Davis, of course,
the best, a happy holiday season, a very special merry Christmas and
happy Chanukah and for the kind words mentioned by some of your
colleagues.
We live in such a great Nation with a diverse background. We have had
many problems through the years, and we still will have problems in the
future; but I think that this body shows consistently, and continues to
show, respect for that diversity. So I, again, say thank you and ask
for Members to support the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Conaway). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 587.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________