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I've always had this weird feeling that my life is soundtracked. Music always runs through my mind. I remember the first time I ever went to New York City, walking the streets while Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer" accompanied the hustle and bustle of Seventh Avenue. I remember one time when I was anguished at my job, and, while leaving Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, I played John Anderson's "(This Old Place Ain't Home It's Just) A Stop in the Road" over and over on my cassette player. Or maybe it was an eight-track. It was a long time ago.

Do you know how it is in a movie when things start to roll?

Hickory High gets the hang of what Norman Dale is trying to teach them in Hoosiers. Runners train on the beach in Chariots of Fire. An artsy montage of race cars in Grand Prix. Bum-bum-BUM. Timpani drums. Orchestral arrangements.

Tony Stewart's recent efforts have cued my theme songs.

The Last Hurrah (1958). Spencer Tracy, Jeffrey Hunter, Dianne Foster. Mayor Frank Skeffington mounts one last, no-holds-barred mayoral campaign.

Bound for a sad farewell a month ago, Stewart has regained his Inner Hoosier. He won in Sonoma. He was second Sunday in New Hampshire. He's finished in the top 10 in four out of the last five races. He leads the majors in extra-base hits.

Sorry. The last one is David Ortiz.

I had come so close to counting out Tony Stewart that I found myself saying "I would never count Tony Stewart out, but ..." on radio interviews. As a result, I wasn't wrong. I was just close to being wrong.

Now the theme song is playing with an inspirational, yet martial, air. The question is whether it will be playing during the closing credits.

I remember the Chase of 2011, when Stewart's relentless, repeating, irresistible charges to the front tracked down both Carl Edwards and history. Oh, it was fun. Edwards and Stewart were both champions. They finished tied. Winning was the difference. Stewart really won the world driving title that year. Maybe the universal. Extraterrestrials took notice.

My father saw something every day of his life that was “the damndest thing ever I seen.” I’ve just seen it once.

No need to get carried away. Stewart was 40 then. Now he's 45. He's in the Chase. He's won a race. He's going to the Hall of Fame.

Nah. Couldn't happen. No way. ... Could it?

Bum-bum-BUM, bum-bum-buh-BAHHHHH!