Not many racers win the first time they are behind the wheel of a race car, but Greg Sewart’s victory in the 1976 Sportsman Series at Atlantic Speedway was just the beginning of an illustrious career in stock car racing for this Halifax native.

Born in 1957, Sewart watched older brother Jim race in the early 1970s, and by 1976 he was ready.

The younger Sewart was a natural on the paved ovals, winning his first title in 1976 with a Sportsman championship. After taking the 1977 title, the team decided to step up to the Modified ranks in Eastern Canada and the Northeast US, along with some trips to Southern Ontario, where they found they could compete with some of the best in short-track racing.

When MASCAR was established in 1983, the Sewarts, with Greg driving and Jim crew chiefing, purchased a new Blair Cooks car, and the stage was set. He won two International 200 events at Riverglade in 1983 and 1984 against the likes of Jr Hanley, Don Biederman, and Rollie MacDonald.

He dominated the series for the next several years, winning the MASCAR points championship in 1983, 1987, 1992, 1993, and 1995.
But the team set its sights outside of local racing during this period, and Sewart took second in the prestigious Oxford 250 in Maine in 1994. He also won the Riverside 250 twice, in 1986 and 1993, and to show he could turn right as well as left in a race car, won the Halifax street course Moosehead Grand Prix in 1991, 1992, and 1994.

With over 100 feature wins to his credit, Sewart was a natural talent behind the wheel and was able to get the most out of a race car when needed. After a race at the Scotia Speedworld in 2002 Sewart finished his racing career.

In 2010 Sewart was inducted into the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame, and we are pleased to honor him tonight.