COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Columbus was a sea of orange Monday night as NASCAR driver Tony Stewart came home to a hero's welcome.

Thousands of people came out to honor Stewart, who won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in Indianapolis last week.

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Stewart said he moved back to his hometown of Columbus from Charlotte, N.C., a year ago so he could relax, surrounded by his family and friends.

Officials estimated more than 25,000 people came to the celebration.

Attendees expressed their love for Stewart with signs and screams.

"He's the master...ain't nothing faster," one ecstatic Stewart fan said.

Stewart was the first Indiana-born driver to win at the Brickyard since 1940.

People in Columbus are proud to wear any piece of "Smoke," Stewart's nickname, they can get.

One fan had purchased his barbecue sauce and hoped Stewart's racing remained as hot as the sauce.

Stewart fans said they were simply giving back to a man who has shown them a lot of love over the years.

"Every time that I would see him, I would always have to get a hug," Judy Ford said. "Tony always gave me a hug. That makes him special."

Columbus Mayor Fred Armstrong proclaimed Monday "Tony Stewart Day."

"If it's Tony Stewart day, does that mean I get to speed down Central Avenue today?" Stewart quipped while addressing the crowd. "I just want to thank all you guys. With your guys' support, being behind us like that, you're going to help us win another championship."

Gov. Mitch Daniels also attended the parade and honored Stewart with a Sagamore of the Wabash, the state's highest honor. It was the first Daniels had given out in his term as governor.

"When I turned around and we were a block from Town Hall here, and I saw those people, that was the most impressive thing I've seen all year," Stewart said.

Stewart said his next quest is to win the Indianapolis 500 one day.

He has won five of the last seven Nextel Cup races and leads in the point standings.