Stewart to Drive at Irwindale Tonight

Tony Stewart never met a race he didn’t like.

So the NASCAR Winston Cup rookie of the year will race in the 75-lap super late model division feature at Irwindale Speedway tonight.

Stewart, winner of three Winston Cup races last season and driver of the Home Depot Pontiac owned by former NFL coach Joe Gibbs, got the suggestion to race through a phone conversation with Irwindale Speedway’s vice president of marketing Pat Patterson.

“I asked, ‘What are you doing Saturday night?’ He said nothing. I asked him if I can find him a car would he race Saturday night,” Patterson said. “So I called Kenny [Smith] and asked if he had a car we could use. Kenny has been real accommodating.”

Stewart raced at Irwindale Speedway in November in the Turkey Night Midget Grand Prix. He finished second to Jason Lefler that night because of mechanical failure on the final lap.

“Pat asked me if I was interested. I said, ‘A race, are you kidding me? I’m always interested,’ ” Stewart said. “I’m having more fun watching their [his crew’s] reaction. The excitement these guys have. It’s old school to me. I’m having a good time.”

Stewart was 31st in first-day qualifying Friday for the Napa Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway in Fontana, pushing his Pontiac to 183.006 mph.