Who is This Ironman Ivan Stewart?

For off-road race fanatics, Ironman holds a meaning far beyond Stan Lee (creator of the Ironman comic) and Robert Downey, Jr (who portrayed the comic book hero). You could say the nickname was given to Ivan Stewart, whose career is the stuff of legend, but more accurately, Stewart laid claim to the nickname "Ironman" fair and square.

Stewart caught off-road racing's attention in 1973 at the Ensenada 300 when his co-driver broke his leg before the race. Stewart recruited mechanic Earl Stah to drive shotgun in the Class 2 buggy, and powered through all 300 miles of the gruelling terrain to claim first place.

After almost 30 wins in 10 years, Stewart has joined the Toyota factory-sponsored team. In those 10 years, he moved up from Class 2 and won the Baja 100. Twice, he was the SCORE Driver of the Year, and the winner of the Baja 500.

He continued his winning tradition in the driver's seat of Toyota-powered, Precision Preparation Inc. Motorsports-built race trucks winning six class victories - including two SCORE World Championships. By the '80s, the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG) had moved the dirt out of the desert and into stadiums, increasing the accessibility and popularity of off-road racing and opening new venues for Stewart/Toyota victories. Stewart holds the all-time MTEG win record with 17.

The seventh year into his partnership with Toyota - 1990 - was a lucky one. Stewart was named SCORE and High Desert Racing Association (HDRA) Driver of the Year, Overall Driver's Champion, Unlimited Class Driver's Champion and Grand National Sport Truck Driver's Champion. Plus, he garnered a total of 11 wins along the way. Just three years later, he duplicated his SCORE Overall and Unlimited Class championships, and steered Toyota to its first Baja 1000 win. During that 1993 season, Stewart and Team Toyota took home the Crown Jewels of desert racing-the Baja 500, Baja 1000 and Nevada 400-marking the first time one manufacturer claimed victory in all three.

In 1994, Stewart moved up to the Trophy-Truck Class and won the San Felipe 25, Baja 500 and Fireworks 250. A year later, he was named Trophy-Truck Class Driver's Champion, and won the Laughlin Challenge and Parker 400. In the final three years of his career, he won another three Baja 500s and one more Baja 1000, for a career total of 17 and 3, respectively. After 26 years of racing, Stewart had won more than 84 victories, and 10 driver's championships.

Stewart is now retired from racing, but he has maintained a high profile in the sport on two levels. First is as founder of the Protruck Racing Organization, a special class of spec trucks that participates at off-road events including the "Best in the Desert" Vegas to Reno run, the Baja 500, and the Pikes Peak hill climb. The series is a true driver's challenge with all the Protrucks incorporating the same components, and engine size limited to 360 cubic inches. Next, Stewart moved from real dirt to virtual dirt with his Super Off-Road arcade game developed for Nintendo and Sega and the Off-Road Challenge, released by Midway Home Entertainment and based on the SCORE desert series. All hail the Ironman - the greatest Toyota Tundra driver ever!

About the Author

The author Jason Lancaster administrates TundraHeadquarters.com, a web site with info, news, and reviews of Toyota Tundra accessories and Tundra parts.

Comments

No comments posted.

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.

Article Advise

Infobious