Tony Stewart captured his third Sprint Cup title by winning the Ford 400 at Homestead Sunday. The often controversial driver made the media rounds Monday, and that included a stop on SportsCenter. Interviewer Sage Steele began asking him several smoke-related questions as a play on the driver/owner’s nickname. It culminated when Stewart said he’s focusing on “smoking” 12 packs of beer on Thanksgiving.
A recap of their conversation:
Steele: Explain why you have the nickname “Smoke.”
Stewart: It started in 1991 when I ran in the USAC Sprint Car division. I wasn’t very good at throttle control. I was kind of like Days of Thunder — I wasn’t very good at saving the tires.
Steele: Thanksgiving, how long does it take to smoke a turkey?
Stewart: I have no idea. I’m trying to figure out how long it takes to smoke a 12-pack. I’m kidding. I can screw up cereal — I can’t cook anything.
And that is why Tony is so beloved in NASCAR (you know, by the half that love him). The other half of fans hate him, but at least they can all agree on one thing: Thanksgiving for NASCAR fans is as much about pounding beer as it is about eating turkey.
