Anthony Wayne Stewart. It has the sound of a very wealthy business man. So can he be the next Donald Trump or Bill Gates in the making? Looking back at some his business investments and career decisions that he has made so far, would even make Rick Hendrick or Roger Penske smile.  He sure has an eye for what's hot and what's not. Smoke as he is known around the NASCAR racing series is making some of the biggest decisions of his life as if he has done it his whole life. Putting aside his long list of driving accomplishments which speak for themselves.  Smoke has already entered into the lucrative and shark infested waters of the cut throat business world.

His first business investment back in 2004 was the purchase of the legendary Eldora Speedway which is located in New Weston, Ohio, Eldora is a half-mile dirt track known to many as "Auto Racing's Showcase Since 1954." Ever since 2005, Smoke has been hosting "Prelude to the Dream" which is a World of Outlaws Late model race. Many of NASCARS top stars make the trek out to Eldora once a year to race in this pay per view event that raises money for the "Tony Stewart Foundation" as well as "The Victory Junction Gang." Smoke is also part owner of Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Kentucky, along with Macon Speedway in Macon, Illinois. He co-owns Macon Speedway with cup drivers, Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace.

Smoke is also involved with U.S.A.C. and owns more then a few open wheel sprint cars. Since most of his sprint cars have been sponsored by Chevrolet since 2007. A lot of insiders around the racing world say this could be one of the reasons that Smoke left the comforts of JGR and his long time crew chief Greg Zipadelli to co-own his own Sprint cup team. Since JGR dumped Chevrolet to sign with Toyota after the 2007 season. Toyota executives were not happy having one their drivers owning sprint cars sponsored by a rival competitor. Especially since Toyota also began to sponsor Midget and Sprint cars in the U.S.A.C. series last season. Smoke was in his 10th year with JGR and on the verge of signing what could have been one of the most lucrative contracts in NASCAR history.

Instead Smoke decided it was time to move on with his life as well as his career. He couldn't have chosen a better time. His primary sponsor Home Depot Inc. has once again taken another big drop in its second quarter sales. Dropping another 24% with no signs of recovery because of a weak housing market.  Its net income fell from $1.59 billion to $1.2 billion or about 10 cents a share during the same period last year. How long does Home Depot continue to sponsor the #20 car before they say they can't afford to anymore? As long as they continue to lay off employees and close stores. It won't be long before JGR starts to look for another sponsor for his #20 car. In the mean time Smoke continues to show good business practices and secures Office Depot and Old S p ic e as his sponsors for next season. Since Office Depot decided not to resign with the #99 team of Carl Edwards. But instead they decided to go with the Aflac duck.

Now that Smoke has taken over 50% of Haas/CNC racing. It makes one wonder what kind of a deal he made with Gene Haas to not only own half the team. But through that same deal it has also made Smoke the highest paid driver in NASCAR today. Smoke has shown in his 10 year NASCAR career that he has what it takes to not only drive these 3400 pound monsters. But he also has a knack for looking beyond what is in front of him and more into his own future. Haas/CNC was a team that was going nowhere. They only have one car that is in the top 35 in owners' points so far this season. And not even that is guaranteed yet.

Smoke came in and worked a deal that put him back in a Chevrolet and also solidified his keen sense of talent by signing Ryan Newman as his teammate. With his 13 wins in 9 full seasons. Ryan is a proven winner himself who also brings a lot to the team with his B.S. in vehicle structure engineering from Purdue University. Think about how helpful he can be to his team with that degree. Especially once Brian France opens the flood gates and lets these teams have more freedom with the newer car. Ryan played a big part during his 2003 season because of his knowledge of the cars. Ryan also earned the nickname "Rocket Man" back in 2003 when he won 8 races and 11 poles with Stewart/Haas Director of competition Matt Borland as his crew chief. 

Mr. Stewart is almost done completing his puzzle. The only thing missing are his crew chiefs and the rest of his team. Smoke is slowly putting together what should be a top notch racing team.  Isn't this the same way that Donald Trump and Bill Gates built there empires? From the bottom up making all the right business decisions and keeping their employees happy? Smoke has already made Ryan happy by giving him the number 39. That was the number that Ryan drove in his first ever winning season in a USAC midget. Stewart also freed up the number for Morgan-McClure should that team return to Sprint Cup next season. McClure officials had expressed displeasure over losing the number it had run for 25 years.

Decisions like this are the way to keep good business relations for the future. He never knows when he might need a favor or two. Smoke is just getting started on a journey that will have its high as well as its lows. Life is full of different decisions and Smoke will have plenty of them to keep him busy. The decisions that he makes from here on will dictate exactly how well his team does.  Good luck to Smoke and Stewart/Haas racing next season. In closing from the words of Scarface. "The world is yours" And Smoke will make his world exactly what he wants it to be. I'm Out