Fans Wait for NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart's Arrival

They came from Ohio, New Jersey, New York and nearby communities.

By 9 p.m. Wednesday, fans of NASCAR driver Tony Stewart started lining up outside in South Whitehall for the chance to get his autograph later today, Aug. 2.

And 300 lucky fans were able to snag the wristbands they need to get his autograph  for a Back-to-School promotion. The wristbands -- distributed on a first come, first-served basis -- were doled out within 45 minutes of the store's opening this morning.

"We got the last two wristbands," said Marcy Redfern, 38, of Newton, Ohio, who was in line with her 14-year-old son, Nicholas. Her two daughters and husband also made the trip, and the family planned to be at the Pocono 400 race on Sunday.

Redfern heard a guy behind her complain to a friend, "You had to stop for coffee, didn't you?"

Waiting this morning were Elise Guenthner, 56, and her son Kevin, 21, of Belcamp, MD., and their friends, Kathy Walston, 49, and Chuck Gmurek, 47, both of Bel Air, MD. They had driven 2.5 hours to get to South Whitehall, landing a place in line at 6:30 a.m.

"We love Tony Stewart," Elise Guenthner gushed. "We're stalkers," she joked.

Melissa Mudge, 53, of Binghamton, NY, is among the fans waiting for Stewart's appearance.

His car will be on site about 1 p.m.

"He's a versatile driver," she said.

Many of the fans, like Christopher Scott, 62, of Toms River, NJ, already had Stewart's autograph but wanted another. "I just enjoy doing the whole thing," Scott said.