FanHouse OperationWaxSmoke

Although it would have been much more fitting for Tony Stewart to wax the guy's back who wrecked him during last Sunday's Food City 500, that didn't matter.

Stewart, in a stunt for charity on his radio show, got his back hair waxed to the smoothness of a baby's bottom thanks to over $100,000 in donations that will go directly to the Victory Junction Gang.

"Operation: Wax Smoke" was started last season over a bet between friends Stewart and Kevin Harvick. Stewart put up his back hair in return for fans raising $100,000 for the NASCAR-themed camp for disabled children. The fans put up quite a bit of the cash and "Happy" Harvick matched their donation with one of his own to secure the rights to Stewart's back mane.

Harvick and regular show co-host Matt Yocum provided the play-by-play.

"It looks like you waxed someone's dog," said Matt Yocum.

Stewart was in a little bit of pain from the process, which you can see a few pics of here.

"I'm telling you, I'd rather you kick me in the balls right now," said Stewart during the show.

Jimmie Johnson gave another $10,000 and J.D. Gibbs $15,000 during the show to bring the total to $125,000.

And for the past three seasons, Stewart has walked away without so much as a lump in his throat about "what could have been."

The No. 20 has led 51.3% of all Food City 500 laps in the past three years but has only managed an average finish of 20th thanks to horrible luck or on-track incidents.

Sunday, Stewart had the familiar Bristol swagger going throughout much of the race and even showed plenty of patience in letting cars by him at times. Towards the end, it was shaping up to be a great finish with Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and Denny Hamlin.

Since its launch in March, Kevin Harvick's "Operation Wax Smoke" has raised almost $30,000 for the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

That means we're just over $70,000 and, at this rate, about 6 months away from seeing Tony Stewart get waxed from the waist up (chest AND back).

That should be just in time for champion's week in New York City.

TV producers, get your pitches in. Letterman? Regis & Kelly? Today Show?

Or should it stay in the family? Speed can carve out some time in one their programs. Have a wax off crew ready. A female on-air, please.

My bad. Was that sexist? Ok, doesn't have to be female but it should be someone familiar with the waxing process. Is that someone Jeff Hammond?

Wax treatment brands, get your product placement bids in. You really can't buy this kind of publicity. Wait. Yes you can. Open up the checkbook.

Fans, make it happen. Visit the Charity Events section in Happy's eSHOP at www.kevinharvick.com to make your donation. They'll take $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 - whatever you got.

Many thanks to Flickr user atraxia for the use of this hairy fan photo from Dover. Can we get him in on the waxing operation?

When I saw a headline, "Help Us Wax Smoke," I was expecting the link to take me to a page lobbying Madame Tussauds to add a Tony Stewart wax figure to their collection of NASCAR drivers, which recently saw the addition of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty.

I was way off. Or should I say waxed off?

Turns out that Tony Stewart recently announced on his SIRIUS satellite radio show, "Tony Stewart Live," that if someone would raise $100,000 for charity, he would wax his chest and back.

Smoke had to know that his friend and part-time boss, practical jokester Kevin Harvick, could never allow an opportunity like that to pass him by. Especially when he owes him one:

During the Daytona 500 pre-race show, Stewart held up a photograph of Ronald McDonald that had been altered so it appeared that Kevin Harvick was wearing Ronald's suit ... Kevin's new colors may indeed be similar to those of Ronald McDonald, but have you seen Tony Stewart's chest and back?

I have. Got a pic somewhere ... hold that thought while I track it down.