On October 20, NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart will test the authenticity of his preference for the WHOPPER® sandwich during a live polygraph as part of "The Tony Stewart School of Endorsements" ad campaign for sponsor Burger King. The one-hour webcast should be a hit with the driver's fanbase and is the crowning PR moment in a series of new TV spots by Crispin Porter + Bogusky that depict Stewart pontificating to his celebrity peers on the do's and dont's of being a corporate shill.
The Miami-based burger giant has yet to disclose who will do the grilling, although "The King" would be an obvious candidate. Too bad he doesn't speak.
"It's no secret that I love the WHOPPER sandwich," Stewart coos in a recent press release. "Participating in a live polygraph test just further demonstrates my enthusiasm and the lengths that I'll go to, to prove my love for its flame-fresh taste."
Not one to shy from making his opinion known, the now owner/driver of Stewart-Haas Racing and his No. 14 team are currently second in points going into "The Chase for the championship" behind old-timer Mark Martin. The Sprint Cup Series winner will be crowned after the final race on November 22 at Homestead Miami Speedway.
Even though Burger King and Stewart won't man up and take questions that aren't pre-screened, we thought we would give flame-broiled meat's new pitchman a quick practice run with some of our own open-ended questions. You'll have to decide for yourself whether or not the answers are his or his publicist's. (Giving up a top-five finish for a WHOPPER... Really, Tony?)
Have some questions of your own? Visit www.truthabouttony.com beginning on September 28 to submit them for lie-detector consideration.
Best place to eat a Whopper: ANYWHERE, ANYTIMEBest person to share a Whopper with: MY STEWART-HAAS RACING TEAMMATE, RYAN NEWMAN OR THE KING.
Would like to throw a Whopper at: NO ONE - THEY ARE TOO GOOD TO WASTE...
Smoke sauce on a Whopper? ADDING ANYTHING "SMOKE" IS ALWAYS GOOD! THE SPICIER THE BETTER.
Best place to roll up to with the King: LAS VEGAS
The driver most jealous of your Whopper ride: EVERYONE - WHO WOULDN'T WANT A WHOPPER RIDE?
Best practical Joke with the King as henchman would be: WAKING UP MY CREW CHIEF, DARIAN GRUBB, LIKE THEY DO IN THE BURGER KING ADS.
The Whopper tastes like: FLAME-FRESH GOODNESS...
I would give up A TOP-5 FINISH for a Whopper.
Would like to be trapped on a dessert island with A LOVELY LADY and a Whopper.
Best drink to wash down a Whopper: COKE
Funniest thing that happened while shooting the Whopper TV spots: WHEN WORKING WITH CARROT TOP AND ERIK ESTRADA EVERYTHING IS FUNNY.
When not eating a Whopper, you'll probably catch me WISHING I HAD A WHOPPER.
A Whopper a day, MAKES ME RACE THE RIGHT WAY!
