Racing icon Tony Stewart named All-Star Celebrity Coach

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indy Fuel, in conjunction with the ECHL, announced Tuesday that auto racing superstar Tony Stewart will serve as a celebrity coach during the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will lead the North Division All-Stars on Monday, January 15 during the ECHL's mid-season showcase at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

The winner of 12 racing championships in multiple divisions over the last three decades, Stewart is the first and only driver to win titles in stock cars, Indy cars and open-wheel Midget and Sprint cars. The native of Columbus, Ind. is a two-time winner of the Brickyard 400 and seven-time champion at Daytona - part of an illustrious 20-year NASCAR driving tenure.

Retired from NASCAR as a driver since 2016, Stewart currently serves as co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, working with drivers such as Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch. Within the dirt racing circuit, Stewart's own Tony Stewart Racing team has accumulated a total of 22 owner championships since 2001.

Providing assistance to Stewart behind the bench will be Fuel assistant coach Ryan McGinnis. The duo will join Colorado Eagles head coach Aaron Schneekloth (Mountain Division), South Carolina Stingrays head coach Ryan Warsofsky (South Division) and Fuel head coach Bernie John.

The CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic is coming to Indianapolis in 2018! The best players in AA hockey take the ice at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on January 15 as part of a celebration of professional hockey in the Circle City, which will include NHL® legend Wayne Gretzky. Visit ECHLAllStarClassic.com for more information and to purchase your tickets, and become an All-Star Insider to get event updates, ticket information and special offers delivered right to your inbox.

About the ECHL

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 27 teams in 21 states and one Canadian province for its 30th season in 2017-18. There have been 633 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 10 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2017-18 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 31 NHL teams in 2017-18, marking the 21st consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.