Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart has a strong affection for Sprint Car racing and recently made an agreement to purchase the All Star Circuit of Champions. (Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com)

Tony Stewart has never hid his affection for racing on dirt, and specifically, Sprint Car racing. It's in his blood.

You can hear it in his voice. Stewart may compete in NASCAR, but his first love is on dirt and he continues to be a strong presence in the sport.

Stewart has dabbled in the Sprint Car ranks during his spare time. He also owns the famous Eldora Speedway and cars driven by World of Outlaws star Donny Schatz and 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser.

Now, Stewart will add to his racing portfolio, wearing the hat of series owner of the All Star Circuit of Champions.

Stewart will become the sole owner of the All Stars after agreeing to terms to purchase the series over the weekend in a deal with majority owner Guy Webb. The three-time NASCAR champion will take over operations of the series immediately while his team works through the transition.

It's a move that screams of Stewart's appreciation of the history of the Sprint Car racing and affection for the sport.

"It does," Stewart said. "Obviously, the last few years of my life I wouldn't mind forgetting, but this is something that allows me to be involved with Sprint Car racing where I can be more than the owner of a World of Outlaws team and a speedway.

"I can go to more races and be passionate. I would like nothing more than to be in the seat, but that won't happen for some time.

"This allows me to be around it, and that is a product of doing something with these guys and it fills a void."

This sale wasn't as simple as sitting around a table over a two or three-hour period and hammering out a deal. It was a process that took over a month to complete.

Stewart and his people talked to drivers, promoters and owners of the All Stars. The Tony Stewart team negotiated, analyzed and took a look at the legal side before pulling the trigger on this accord.

The ramifications of this purchase are huge. Not only does it usher in a new era for the All Stars, it puts an end to the feud between the series and the upstart Renegade Sprint Series.

Stewart made an agreement with Shane Helms and Rob Hunter to purchase the Renegades and any All Star interest. The acquisition was official Saturday and brings the two factions under one umbrella as the All Star Circuit of Champions.

In regards to a schedule, Roger Slack, Promoter and General Manager of Eldora Speedway, has spent the last few weeks putting together a 55-race master schedule comprised of All Star and Renegade dates.

"The complexity of it was to do it quietly and try to be be honest with everybody," Slack said. "We compiled a spread sheet of 11 different columns of notes and schedules.

"It was working with the World of Outlaws, existing All Star and Renegade dates, Ohio tracks, Pennsylvania notes, Pennsylvania Speed Week notes, USAC notes...everything. We had to be mindful of the NASCAR schedule.

"The great thing was that everyone knew what we were up against and cooperated. Everybody knew the goal was to save a legendary brand. The All Star name is important to the history of the sport, and no one wanted to lose it."

The series will open in Florida at Bubba Raceway Park on Feb. 5-7. The first point race will take place March 28 at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, Ohio.

This project also keeps the prestigious Ohio Speed Week in place. The series starts at Attica Raceway Park and visits Eldora, Waynesfield Raceway Park, Wayne County, Sharon Speedway, Atomic, Limaland Motorsports Park and Fremont Speedway.

The All Stars will continue to have a presence in Pennsylvania. Williams Grove, Lincoln and Port Royal Speedway are on the slate.

"It was important to us and the Pennsylvania tracks," Slack said. "It was really encouraging that all the Pennsylvania tracks were so supportive and really behind us.

"They were cooperative and told us to do whatever we had to do, to call any hour of the day and let them know what was going on. It was really a great experience."

Now that an agreement to purchase the All Stars has been reached, a management group and series director needs to be put in place. Expect more details to be released in the coming weeks.

As for Stewart, this acquisition further solidifies his foothold in Sprint Car racing and sends a message that he is here to stay.