After DIS debacle, Stewart wants Windy City win.

Tony Stewart has three good reasons to head to Chicagoland Speedway for the upcoming Tropicana 400, not least because Chicago is hundreds of miles away from the Daytona International Speedway.

Reason number one is getting back behind the wheel of his #20 Home Depot Pontiac to begin the second-half of the marathon-like NASCAR Winston Cup Series season - typically Stewart's strongest. Of his 14 career Winston Cup victories, eight have come between the months of July and November. Just 212 points arrears series leader Sterling Marlin, Stewart is still in the championship hunt despite suffering a DNF (Did Not Finish) last week at Daytona.

Reason number two comes in the form of the International Race of Champions, or IROC as it is better known. After winning round one of IROC XXVI at Daytona earlier this year and finishing sixth at Fontana in round two, Stewart comes into round three at Chicagoland leading the points, 35 to 32, over fellow Winston Cupper Kevin Harvick.

While reason number three doesn't put Stewart behind a steering wheel, it's just as important to the Rushville, Indiana, native. His World of Outlaws sprint car team driven by Danny Lasoski, reigning World of Outlaws champions, race just up the road Friday night at Route 66 Raceway. Lasoski has 10 "A" Main victories and is in a tight points battle with 15-time champion Steve Kinser.

In the inaugural Tropicana 400 at the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway last year, Stewart qualified 27th and finished 33rd after a crash on lap 257.