Ashley Does 'Dega

Below is Ashley's report from Talladega Superspeedway, where she attended a media function on Monday that involved tossing a few questions to Tony Stewart. Of course, I know there is more to this story, and with a little prodding, maybe we'll get her to spill the rest of it. (Like how she shamelessly flirted with this two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion.)

Anyway, thanks to Ashley for making my week by getting to hang with my favorite NNC driver and sharing all the fun, and for taking the time to snap a few pics along the way. You go, girl!

Tony Stewart climbs the high banks of TSS to get to the paver.

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- How does the 2005 Nextel Champion celebrate the news that he will be inducted into the Talladega/Texaco Walk of Fame during the October UAW-Ford 500? Tony Stewart learned Monday morning that he, along with Rusty Wallace, will receive that honor and to celebrate he spent the morning visiting the Talladega Superspeedway, which is undergoing a massive re-paving project. Not to be left out of the action, Stewart pitched in "hands on" with the resurfacing in progress at TSS by testing his driving skills behind the gears of the paving equipment.

Entertaining the paving crew from Sunmount, (Justin, Texas) the 2005 Nextel Cup Champion scaled up the 33 degree banking of the speedway - which is equivalent to a five-story building - and climbed into the cab of a paving machine.

Later Stewart commented that “it was much easier to drive 180+ mph around the track, than to drive 9 mph in a piece of equipment. I kept thinking about the things that could happen if this thing (the paver) wrecked --- they are far worse than a bad day on the track.”

Tony Stewart chats with the media at TSS.

Stewart, driver of the Home Depot #20, said he was excited about the opportunity that the resurfacing would offer; racing three and four wide on the new asphalt at TSS in October. He pointed out that all of the teams would have to make changes and adjustments to their cars from the April race at TSS, such as tires and stability with the speed they were going to experience on the new surface.

Race fans watching or following Sunday’s Nextel race at Loudon heard Stewart express a very strong opinion regarding the behavior and skill of the rookies and less experienced drivers that led to his team leaving the race early. The candid approach Tony Stewart took with the media, following an upsetting run at New Hampshire International the day before, was refreshing. He entertained questions ranging from the incidents during that race to his philanthropy and stories of local racing hero Red Farmer (AL).

He replied, showing his personality, to the pointed “where do you feel your team is at this point in the season” question with the comment that they were in a “luck slump- that’s all."

The two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion is also a veteran of Sprint and Midget racing, IRL, and the NASCAR Busch Series, as well as being the track owner/promoter of Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Stewart is a philanthropist, and is involved in all aspects of trying to keep NASCAR racing real for the drivers and the fans.

For more information on Tony Stewart visit www.tonystewart.com

For continued update information on the repaving please visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com