TRUE SPEED my Racing Life

Some people probably wish Tony Stewart would just shut up and drive. His detractors think he has a big mouth and is prone to temper tantrums. But, really, #20's problem is that he's too honest and, as Tony says, "in this sport, honesty can get you in a lot of trouble."

But you can't take the drive out of the man. Tony Stewart is one of the most controversial stars to hit the Winston Cup scene, famous for his four-letter outbursts and badass behavior. In True Speed, he takes you on a no-holds-barred trip around the track, to the pit stop, and behind the scenes.

NASCAR's 1999 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year has been penalized, slammed, and knocked around. He has spun out Jeff Gordon's car -- on pit road no less. He has had shouting matches, brawls, and heated "discussions" with other drivers and NASCAR officials. He has clashed with reporters, sometimes physically, all the while maintaining one of his core principles: honesty. "I'm not always the easiest guy to interview. But I do think I'm one of the most honest, and that's not going to change."

Stewart will not accept defeat. He knows that he wasn't born to be a loser, and he justifies it with stark honesty between these pages. True Speed, told by Tony himself, discusses it all: from playing with Matchbox cars to actually racing go-karts, midgets, and stock cars.

In True Speed Tony doesn't only talk about the simple details of the tracks or the cars, he discusses the science of the race: the machines, the brakes, the tires, and the tracks. He also describes the mental and physical challenges he has to endure on every ride, the head games the job can play on him, the claustrophobia he suffers from, as well as the lifestyle and pressures of the job.

In three full seasons of competition in the NASCAR Winston Cup series, Tony Stewart has compiled one of the most impressive records in series history. But True Speed tells more than Tony's NASCAR tale. His reputation was made in midgets and sprints and Silver Crown cars; later, in 1997 and 1998, he established himself as an Indy Racing League star. He recounts his open-wheel days fondly and in great detail.

Tony Stewart's story is one of a gritty racing life: fast, uncompromising, and nothing less than a checkered flag.

Tony Stewart divides his time between Lake Norman, North Carolina, and his boyhood home in Columbus, Indiana.

Bones Bourcier has covered American auto racing since 1976. He contributes to numerous publications including Speedway Illustrated magazine, where he serves as editor-at-large. Bourcier has twice won the Miller Racing Award of Excellence in Honor of Russ Catlin, one of motorsports journalism’s most coveted annual prizes, in addition to other awards from the Eastern Motorsports Press Association. He is the coauthor of Racing Safely, Living Dangerously with Bill Simpson. Bourcier lives in Indianapolis.