COLUMBUS, Ind. — The racetrack where Tony Stewart won his first title now bears his name.
The Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds dedicated its racetrack to Stewart on Tuesday night. It was at that same racetrack that Stewart got his start in racing.
The Columbus native was just eight years old when he won his first championship at the fairgrounds in Columbus. He would go on to become a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame last year.
Now, more than 40 years later, the track is officially named after him.
Stewart was on hand for the dedication, saying he came in from Charlotte to race at the fair, an event he makes sure to attend every year.
"This is a proud moment for me being from here and I don't think there's anybody in the world that can ever say I forgot where I came from, I think today's proof of that," Stewart said. "And I never will. It's where I'm always going to be and it's where my heart is."
Fairgrounds racetrack named after hometown hero Tony Stewart
He also joked that he wanted a set of keys to the track so he could come out and practice whenever he wanted.
The fairgrounds shared the news on social media and thanked Stewart and his family foundation for their years of support on and off the track.
"We are happy to continue our relationship with our hometown hero," the post said.
