NASCAR Fan Races For The Big Money

SEBRING - There's a million reasons Sheila Riley of Sebring hopes race car driver Tony Stewart wins the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship.

If Stewart is crowned champion of an ongoing series of NASCAR races that concludes Nov. 18, then Riley -- a 10-year Highlands County resident -- will collect a million dollar prize.

Stewart is in fourth place in a 12-driver field, after three of seven races.

At least twice per day for six weeks, Riley entered the Sprint Speed Million Sweepstakes online. Her persistence paid off.

She won $10,000 in cash as part of $40,000 worth of prizes, including a free trip to the Nov. 4 NASCAR race at Texas International Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.

Both Sheila and her husband, Pat Riley, will get to sleep in a deluxe recreational vehicle parked in the race track's infield, have a chef prepare all their meals, take a track tour, meet many of the drivers at a pre-race conference and win a new phone and service.

Sheila Riley is scheduled to chat with Stewart on the phone today, and then receive the a check for $10,000 from Number 20, minutes before the race, in front of more than 100,000 stock car fans.

"It still doesn't seem real," said Sheila Riley. "Tony is supposed to call, and that will make it real."

She then smiled when she realized the familiarity she used to describe the driver.

"Yes, we're on a first name basis."

If Stewart wins, Riley intends to consult a financial advisor and then buy her dream car, a Corvette.

A few bills might get paid off and the couple plans to take a nice vacation every year, with the rest of the winnings plowed back into investments to ensure the couple is "set for retirement."

Pat Riley noticed when Stewart wins a race, he scales a fence.

If that happens, Pat Riley -- also a lineman for cable TV -- wants to tell the racer something and then ask for a favor.

If that does happen the conversation, he plans to say: "I'm used to heights and I'm certified to climb 28 feet. I want to climb the fence with you if you win."